Healthcare tycoon Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) has always taken a profit-centred approach to his hospitals, mandating two patients to a room with absolutely no exceptions. But Ed gets a taste of his own medicine when he's treated for terminal cancer, and is forced to share with working-class Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman).
The chalk-and-cheese grumpy old men fail to hit it off but, when both patients are given just six months to live, find a common interest in checking off the items on their 'bucket lists' - records of everything they want to do before they die. Cue skydiving, car racing and lots of world travel, along with a healthy dose of male bonding and self-discovery.
The life-affirming, make-every-second-count premise could have been another trite Hollywood plot device, but the quality and charisma of two ageing Hollywood icons makes The Bucket List something special.
Freeman oozes world-weary gravitas and homely wisdom, while Nicholson delivers up yet another spot-on lovable grouch, and their chemistry lights up the screen. A gentle, beautifully realised drama with a winning sense of humour.
The Bucket List is a Film programme that first aired in 2007 and has been classified a 12 certificate.
