Life or Something Like It (2002)

"Life or Something Like It" tells the story of Lanie Kerrigan, a successful but shallow reporter living in the fast lane of the news world. On assignment to interview a psychic homeless man for a lighthearted piece about a football game, Lanie receives a shocking prediction: her life is meaningless, and she will die in a matter of days. This bleak forecast throws her meticulously planned world into disarray, forcing her to confront her emptiness and take action to find meaning before it's too late. The film follows her journey as she attempts to defy her predicted fate and seek genuine connection, all while battling her cynicism and grappling with the possibility that the psychic's words are, in fact, true. While "Life or Something Like It" isn't explicitly a Stephen Herek film, it certainly shares qualities that make it fit into a list of "Best Stephen Herek Movies." Herek has a knack for balancing lighthearted comedy with underlying emotional depth, which is evident in this film's exploration of existential themes, a common thread in his directorial work. The film’s visual style, similar to his other projects, is bright and energetic, and the film is driven by a female lead who, like many of Herek's protagonists, finds herself thrust into challenging situations. Although a change of director, the story, its themes, and the production elements all align with Herek's established cinematic style.