Well, Jack gets his priorities in order and marries his fiancee, and Miles gets a second chance with Maya, so it ends on a hopeful note. If you want to see what an unremittingly bleak, soul-deadening movie looks like, try Requiem for a Dream.

I just can't see why people find it so depressing. Hardly an uplifting movie but at least its funny and has real characters. Haven't reached middle age yet but do younger people expect it to be that much better?

Thank you for an actual reply.

I Really just hoped the two male leads killed themselves or died in a car crash or something.
Sometimes Capital Punishment better that life in prison..
These guys were depressing, especially Miles,
I think they added the "hey maybe she does want to get back with him phone message" so people leaving the theater wouldn't drive off a bridge on propose on the way home!
But why do we keep re watching it? Because of the acting mainly.
And maybe a little of that existentialist reminder of, hey, don't live like these people.
Ephemeron.