29 Going on 79

I’m not a fan of science-fiction or fantasy; but I do love alternative history and alternative reality stories. Wristcutter’s, A Love Story, opens with Zia, a twenty-something who has committed suicide and finds himself in a sort of afterlife for those who take their own life. Rather than the traditional images we get from religion, this is more of a parallel universe that Zia describes as being pretty much the same, just a little bit worse.

Zia meets up with Eugene a Russian immigrant who is in the suicide after-life with his entire family. Together they set out on a road trip for a reason that might ruin the story. Along the way they find Mikal who charms them both and joins the ride. Tom Waits has a funny part and Will Arnett made a surprise appearance.

When a friend’s sister asked me to order this at Barnes, I first imagined a whiny movie that would appeal to the emo crowd. Instead it’s a quirky and interesting love story that was totally unexpected and much more thought-provoking than I predicted.