David Freyne’s ‘Eternity’ Revives the Magic of the Rom-Com
With 'Eternity,' David Freyne breathes new life into romantic comedies, blending heartfelt storytelling, irresistible chemistry, and classic influences for a film that charms from start to finish.
It ’s worth asking what truly makes a romantic comedy unforgettable, especially when so many claim the genre has faded from the spotlight. While some argue that filmmakers have lost touch with the art of crafting sharp, witty, and endlessly endearing love stories, David Freyne’s Eternity stands as proof that the rom-com is far from dead. In a cinematic landscape often defined by moody visuals and slow pacing, where style sometimes overshadows substance, Freyne’s film is a refreshing reminder that a strong plot and genuine charm are the real secret ingredients. Eternity delivers so much warmth and wit, it’s impossible not to smile throughout.
Classic Inspirations and a Modern Twist
The creative spark for Eternity began with a moodboard. In a conversation about the film, which centers on Elizabeth Olsen’s character Joan as she faces a life-altering choice between her longtime husband and the young love she lost too soon, the comparison to Groundhog Day naturally came up. Both movies use a touch of fantasy to explore real emotions, grounding their stories in sincerity and electric chemistry. The influence of John Hughes is also felt, as his films captured the mythic quality of coming-of-age moments through infectious writing. Freyne and co-writer Pat Cunnane channel that same energy, skillfully balancing humor and heartfelt emotion.
“Nora Ephron from that period was a huge influence,”
Freyne shared, adding to the list of inspirations. But two names stood out above the rest:
“The biggest influences were Billy Wilder films and Preston Sturges films,”
he explained.
“Those kind of old Golden Era rom coms that had so much heart and humour and weren’t afraid to go for big emotions, which I think we don’t do as often now in cinema.”
With a nod to the grand tradition of 1940s and 1950s Hollywood, Freyne set out to capture that same emotional sweep, saying,
“Those old, old Hollywood kind of rom coms were the big, big, big touchstone for me when I was making it.”
The Power of Perfect Casting
As with the classics, the real magic of a romantic comedy often comes down to casting. Think of Meg Ryan, Molly Ringwald, Marilyn Monroe, Henry Fonda, or Dean Martin—icons who brought unforgettable chemistry to the screen. For Eternity, Freyne found his dream team in Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner. Turner plays Luke, the young man who’s waited 67 years in the afterlife to reunite with Joan, while Teller is Larry, Joan’s steadfast partner through those decades. Their dynamic is pure comedic gold, with Olsen anchoring the story in real emotion as Joan wrestles with the meaning of love and commitment.
Freyne knew he’d struck gold with this trio.
“They really were dream casting,”
he said.
“It’s kind of who I wanted for the roles, but they don’t audition, you offer them, and I felt so fortunate that they said yes.”
But he admitted to some nerves:
“I think for me, though, the anxiety was whether they would get on,”
he explained. The heart of any great rom-com is the connection between its leads, and Freyne saw that spark during rehearsals at Olsen’s home.
“Very quickly I could see them bonding and just having conversations about our lives and our loves, I could see how they were connecting with each other, and I could see that chemistry building.”
Bold Choices and Unfiltered Emotion
Another essential ingredient for a standout romantic comedy is a willingness to take risks. Freyne brings this boldness both in his script and his direction, creating an afterlife that’s as imaginative as it is heartfelt. The cast matched his energy, throwing themselves into their roles without hesitation.
“They were so game to they had no embarrassment in going for the biggest loss. They had no ego in anything in the film. And they really just put their hearts and souls into it,”
Freyne recalled.
“I was really proud of the script. I think it was really great. But they made it so much more funny and so much more moving than I thought it could be.”
That’s the kind of alchemy that happens when a director and cast are perfectly in sync, capturing the big laughs and even bigger emotions that define the very best romantic comedies.