Eternity is the latest romantic comedy from independent studio A24. Photo: A24.
It is extremely rare for romantic comedies and dramas to have theatrical runs in 2025.
It is even rarer when they have unique twists that blow out the budgets.
Fortunately for fans of love triangles intertwined with witty comedy and a splash of the macabre, A24’s newest film, Eternity, has somehow found its way onto the big screen.
Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller as the married couple Joan and Larry, the pair tragically die within a week of one another, Joan to cancer and Larry to choking on a pretzel.
Following their deaths, the pair find themselves in a form of purgatory where they must choose how they wish to spend the rest of eternity.
Added to the mix, however, is Joan’s first husband Luke, played by Callum Turner, who died 65 years earlier in the Korean War and waited in purgatory until Joan arrived.
With the possibility of only choosing one of her husbands to spend the rest of eternity with, Joan is left contemplating an impossible decision: continue forever with the man she was married to for 65 years or reunite with the man who was her first love and waited for her for over half a century.
As a concept, I’m so happy this film exists.
There are very few films like this that come out today, especially ones with the talent of Olsen, Miller and Turner attached to it.
Thankfully, it’s not just a unique concept that carries the film, but the fact that the movie as a whole is very enjoyable.
While Joan’s decision is ultimately the focal point of the narrative, the film does a remarkable job of showcasing why both Larry and Luke belong with her.
The decision isn’t a sure thing. Even up until she ultimately decides, I was left tossing and turning which way she would go.
This is due to very clever writing and characters that are fun to spend time with, Miles Teller being the most enjoyable of the three.
Despite being married to Joan for over 60 years, he always felt like he was playing second fiddle to the first man she ever loved. It makes for some very comedic and painstakingly heartfelt moments.
Teller does a fantastic job of showcasing how much love Larry has for his wife, while also being so unsure of himself. His chemistry with Olsen is fantastic and despite both looking like they’re in their late 30s, you are completely sold on the fact that these two were married for as long as they were.
Meanwhile, Turner’s performance as Luke is also pretty solid. While it’s clear that Joan’s life was easier with Luke, he’s treated almost like a fantasy. While I didn’t buy his chemistry with Olsen quite as much, he was very serviceable as “the man who was gone too soon”.
Moving on from the performances, the production was also top-notch. Purgatory is a mash-up of on-location sets ranging from mountain tops to a train station. No two scenes looked too similar to previous scenes and it provided the feel that eternity genuinely could be anywhere or anything.
The comedy is also quite funny. The film can be heavy when it wants to be, but like most love triangle stories, there are moments throughout to break up the tension. Again, it’s Teller providing most of the laughs and while not all of the jokes stick, they did enough to carry the audience through.
Ultimately, it’s the moments of the heart that are most poignant.
We understand why Larry and Luke love Joan and why they are so desperate to be with her because of these moments. On the flipside, it’s clear that this decision is impossible for Joan as we learn how much she truly loved both of them.
Eternity is a lot of things. It’s funny yet crushing, cringey while also cute, over the top in a lot of ways, but subtle when it needs to be. It’s a very enjoyable time at the cinema and perfect for a date night.
Eternity is currently showing in cinemas across the country.
