Mr. Destiny
Originally published on social media on August 30th, 2022
Destiny. Do you believe in it? Who is the designer of destiny? What is the relationship between destiny and free will? Is destiny a limiting or liberating force? Can we mess up our destiny, or is everything so predestined that it would be impossible to mess up our destiny?
The world has tried to answer these questions since the beginning of time. Some choose to find understanding through their religion, and others rely on philosophy. People can agree or disagree on the main principles behind these questions, but I feel like everyone feels differently about the idea of destiny. We can romanticize it or roll our eyes at it, or have feelings somewhere in the middle. I encourage you to ponder these concepts as you watch the film “Mr. Destiny”.
Essentially, this film is the non-Christmas version of It’s a Wonderful Life. Rather than wishing he was never born (like George Bailey), Larry Burrows wishes he could fix a mistake that determined the trajectory of his life. In my own life, I try to say no to regret and yes to learning lessons, but still…sometimes I wish I could live the version of my life where certain moments happened differently. I would love to naturally not be an idiot the first time around with things!
This is an important film because of the lesson it teaches. I would tell you that lesson, but then it would ruin the film...so go watch it and learn! In general, this film makes the conversations about destiny feel less dramatic and much more laid back. This film is very comforting actually!
With all that in mind, this film gets . The script, the acting, everything is well done. I specifically love the warm lighting and the quality of the cinematography itself. It has that nice 80s/90s warmth, vibe, and almost graininess to it.
Personal note: Yes I am reviewing a film released in 1990 in the midst of a 1980's theme. However, I would have never known it was technically a 90's film had I not looked it up. Plus, it was probably filmed in 1989 anyways! Bam! Justified! Besides, good films are meant to be shared, and I couldn't let summer end without sharing this film.