The Bucket List (2007)

Ever seen the pyramids look like a poster in a dentist’s office? The Bucket List sends two men to Egypt, India and the Himalayas, and every stop looks like the actors are standing in front of a giant photo. Jack Nicholson plays Edward as Jack Nicholson, all smirks and grumpy billionaire one-liners, and Morgan Freeman’s Carter narrates in that voice that could make a grocery list sound wise. Their chemistry is easy, and the hospital-room scenes work best. A skydiving trip and a race car day are fun in a postcard way. But the script rushes past the hard stuff with tidy speeches, and Sean Hayes as the long-suffering assistant gets the only jokes with real bite. It earned a 40% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an A-minus CinemaScore from audiences. It made $175.4 million worldwide on a reported $45M. A 4.8 because two great actors coast on charm and the script never takes a real risk. $29.01 says you start a list of your own on a napkin tonight and get stuck after item three.

What works: Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman are easy company, and their early hospital-room banter has genuine warmth.

What doesn’t: The globe-trotting looks fake, the emotional beats are tidy and predictable, and the script never digs into anything difficult.

Who it’s for: Families who want a gentle, sentimental movie with two beloved stars and a good cry that never gets too heavy.