This is one of those movies I really wanted to see back when it was playing in theaters but never got around to it. If you consider that it was written by Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) you probably won't be surprised when I tell you this film is definitely a strange trip.

One thing that surprised me, however, was that Eternal Sunshine was more of a drama than a comedy. Sure, there are a few laughable moments here or there, such as when Jim Carrey forces his mind to jump to embarrassing moments buried deep inside his subconsious, but for the most part the film is more interesting than anything else. Being John Malkovich was a truly great film because not only was it emotionally engaging, but it was also funny as hell.

This isn't to say Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind is a bad film; the path of progressing through a relationship backwards is bizarre yet fun to watch, and ultimately shows us that even when things go bad, it's important to remember the good times. (Just in case you were thinking of having part of your memory erased). Not as deep or insightful as it wants to be, but still an enjoyable film that I'd recommend to moviegoers who look for stuff outside of the mainstream.

Posted October 3, 2004 | link