Kick this A-list 'Bucket'

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star in "The Bucket List."

Published: Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 6:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 4:19 p.m.

The Bucket List" is a movie about two old codgers who are nothing like people, both suffering from cancer that is nothing like cancer and setting off on adventures that are not possible. I urgently advise hospitals: Do not make the DVD available to your patients; there may be an outbreak of bedpans thrown at TV screens.



STARRING: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman

GRADE: one out of five stars

MPAA RATING: PG-13 (language)

RUNNING TIME: 97 minutes

OPENS FRIDAY: Hollywood 16, Belleview Cinemas, Rialto

The film opens with yet another voice-over narration by Morgan Freeman, extolling the saintly virtues of a white person who deserves our reverence. His voice takes on a sort of wonderment as he speaks of the man's greatness; it was a note that worked in "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Million Dollar Baby," but not here, not when he is talking of a character played by Jack Nicholson, for whom lovability is not a strong suit.

Nicholson plays Edward, a rich man of about 70, who has been diagnosed with cancer, given a year to live and is sharing a room with Carter (Freeman), about the same age, same prognosis.

Why does a billionaire not have a private room? Why, because Edward owns the hospital, and he has a policy that all patients must double up, so it would look bad if he didn't.

Then, it is madcap follies.

There are movies that find humor - albeit perhaps of a bitter, sardonic nature - in cancer. Some of them show incredible bravery, as in Mike Nichols' "Wit," with its great performance by Emma Thompson. "The Bucket List" thinks dying of cancer is a laugh riot followed by a dime-store epiphany.

The sole redeeming merit of the film is the steady work by Freeman, who has appeared in more than one embarrassing movie but never embarrassed himself. Maybe it's not Nicholson's fault that his role cries out to be overplayed, but it's his fate, and ours.


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