| A young couple hit the road mere days before an asteroid is expected to wipeout humanity. Rose (June Schreiner) and Michael (Andrew Ortenberg) are planning the rest of their lives together, in so far that the rest of their lives is only going to be a few more days. It’s an epic and yet small journey, destinations are sometimes a little vague since they never know when, if, or even how their demise is going to occur. | | 2025
Directed by: Andrew Johnson
Screenplay by: Andrew Ortenberg
Starring: June Schreiner, Andrew Ortenberg
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The characters can seem a little weird and hard to connect with at the beginning, and since you’re about to spend most of the next two hours with just these two characters, that’s a little concerning. Eventually though backstory is given which really helps round Rose and Michael into shape. Even before we get to that backstory, the film has a mysterious tone going for it, where you are never sure if what’s coming around the corner is going to be scary, or funny, or just plain weird. Eventually, it becomes clear that that is how Rose and Michael are navigating life.
The world the film paints, or at the least the midwestern United States part of the world, is at times fascinating. People have just deserted their lives. Wherever they wanted to go or whomever they wanted to see before they die, they have taken off and done that. Highways are empty, many houses are empty, vehicles just abandoned as people either ran out of gas, or ran into something more dangerous. The people who stayed are either out to hurt others or have locked themselves up in their house. Leaving everybody on edge.
A lot of the first half is just small scenes as Rose and Michael encounter other strays on their way to Rose’s grandmother’s place. The more interesting parts of the film is observing what is or isn’t happening, how empty the world is and how the remaining people are operating within it. However, for each little scene, those interesting moments don’t last very long. The random characters are just that, random, and often a little boring.
The second half spends more time examining Rose and Michael’s relationship. By this point we have been given a lot more backstory, and we’re down to hours left in their lives. Watching the two actors navigate these final moments - mostly with joy but of course the fear of the unknown starts seeping in as well – is just marvelous. This is a very nicely composed film with really great settings for each part of their journey.
When I’m Ready is understandably slow and meandering. But the world they have depicted is interesting and by the end the two lead characters are very engaging and you’ve watched this surreal romance occur as the world is about to come to an end.
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