Idiocracy + the apocalypse = our actual reality.
I find that hilarious and depressing at the same time, which is, if you ask me, the very goal of satire.
The lack of a singular character causes it to spin constantly without real humour. It feels like a second draft on a script that needs more like three or four drafts to succeed. It’s a shame because the premise is an important one, perhaps the MOST important in our slowly dying world. Instead of real plot development, we have constant cameos and visual gags. The editing tricks they need to keep things even remotely interesting are obvious and insulting.
As a non american, the US-centrism of this movie made it unintentionally absurd and annoying to watch.
Do they really expect me to believe that the international community would have done nothing? that the only non-american attempt would be made after Russia, China and India got cut out by the US form exploiting the comets minerals? why would the US have the rights to the minerals when the comet was crushing into Chile's coasts?
After 30 minutes of Adam McKay's Don't Look Up, I was about ready for the comet to hit the Earth, preferably right on Jonah Hill's head, but I really despised 90% of the characters so I'm no fussy. Like, I get it. It's a satire about how people, especially our leaders, haven't and continue not to take climate change/the pandemic seriously, caring more about politics, entertainment and money than our survival. It's so obvious that's what it's about that I'd call it low-hanging fruit. But here's the thing. I am well past finding the situation even darkly funny, and in a way, the movie does exactly what it condemns by turning apocalyptic concerns into entertainment. You could argue that any film that elicits a strong emotional reaction "works" and I probably agree. But my sense of frustration - identifying with the scientists who are trying to raise the alarm - made me crazy and only the prospect of writing this capsule review kept me from bailing on it several times. Easily the most obnoxious movie to come out this year - it should come with all the trigger warnings, cuz I can't laugh at this sort of shit anymore.
Adam McKay is following the footsteps of M. Night Shyamalan and David O. Russell as a director that fails to understand what made his breakthrough films good. Ironically, his “dumb comedies” remain his best efforts, so far.
The laughs in satires like Duck Soup, The Great Dictator and Dr. Strangelove come at the expense of the people in charge, but here, McKay points his finger at everybody. This is why it leaves such a sour taste; he’s scolding the world and you. The takeaway from Don’t Look Up is not that humanity is too stupid to save itself, but rather that humanity is too stupid to be worth saving. This is a misanthrope’s wet dream; an ad hominem/strawman attack towards everybody. I highly doubt this was his intention, but that’s what we’re left with. The only moment that can be described as hopeful (Timothee's prayer), is followed by the end note, which is less “do something now before it’s too late”; and more “enjoy your life because we’re fucked anyway”.
Also, casting a bunch of A-listers to criticize the celebrity culture that some of them have engaged in, is hypocrisy at its best.
140 minutes is too long for a movie with not a whole lot to say. Satire doesn't have to be subtle, but it needs to know when its point has been made. I’m, of course, not saying that everything is fine; I’m only saying that McKay’s approach sucks.
Take care of the planet as much as you can and avoid trash like this.
Dissapointing comedy drama. It isn't funny, the satire makes it point in the first 20 minutes and than goes on for 2 hours without adding anything new. Nice cast though.
Quite honestly, this could have done with more work. It seemed like the first draft was the one they went with and they weren't too concerned with the satire or the quality. On the plus side Meryl Streep is on point.
My friends and I had a good discussion about whether or not the dialogue was realistic, or completely overblown. As a satire, it's incredibly on the nose, but grapples with some big issues in a pretty fun way. Well worth a watch, and much better than other similar films like the Laundromat.
I didn't enjoy Vice at all and I'm not the biggest fan of The Big Short-- but this was much better than expected. Saw it with an audience and people were loving it. Critics were complaining about it being tonally inconsistent, but it's funny all the way through. Didn't find it cloying or too preachy. I find it less smug than McKay's previous two movies precisely because it is a fantasy and not real events told with the benefit of hindsight. I guess you could complain about it being a masochistic daydream about wanting to say "I told you so" so much that you're willing to die... but if it works it works. I liked it.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 41
Torgo
Idiocracy + the apocalypse = our actual reality.I find that hilarious and depressing at the same time, which is, if you ask me, the very goal of satire.
frankqb
The lack of a singular character causes it to spin constantly without real humour. It feels like a second draft on a script that needs more like three or four drafts to succeed. It’s a shame because the premise is an important one, perhaps the MOST important in our slowly dying world. Instead of real plot development, we have constant cameos and visual gags. The editing tricks they need to keep things even remotely interesting are obvious and insulting.I wish it was better.
3 stars out of 5
yellowslug
Probably the most self-satisfied film I've ever watched. How is it that long?Eloisa
As a non american, the US-centrism of this movie made it unintentionally absurd and annoying to watch.Siskoid
After 30 minutes of Adam McKay's Don't Look Up, I was about ready for the comet to hit the Earth, preferably right on Jonah Hill's head, but I really despised 90% of the characters so I'm no fussy. Like, I get it. It's a satire about how people, especially our leaders, haven't and continue not to take climate change/the pandemic seriously, caring more about politics, entertainment and money than our survival. It's so obvious that's what it's about that I'd call it low-hanging fruit. But here's the thing. I am well past finding the situation even darkly funny, and in a way, the movie does exactly what it condemns by turning apocalyptic concerns into entertainment. You could argue that any film that elicits a strong emotional reaction "works" and I probably agree. But my sense of frustration - identifying with the scientists who are trying to raise the alarm - made me crazy and only the prospect of writing this capsule review kept me from bailing on it several times. Easily the most obnoxious movie to come out this year - it should come with all the trigger warnings, cuz I can't laugh at this sort of shit anymore.Gabor.
A reflection of the today societybaraka92
Adam McKay is following the footsteps of M. Night Shyamalan and David O. Russell as a director that fails to understand what made his breakthrough films good. Ironically, his “dumb comedies” remain his best efforts, so far.The laughs in satires like Duck Soup, The Great Dictator and Dr. Strangelove come at the expense of the people in charge, but here, McKay points his finger at everybody. This is why it leaves such a sour taste; he’s scolding the world and you. The takeaway from Don’t Look Up is not that humanity is too stupid to save itself, but rather that humanity is too stupid to be worth saving. This is a misanthrope’s wet dream; an ad hominem/strawman attack towards everybody. I highly doubt this was his intention, but that’s what we’re left with. The only moment that can be described as hopeful (Timothee's prayer), is followed by the end note, which is less “do something now before it’s too late”; and more “enjoy your life because we’re fucked anyway”.
Also, casting a bunch of A-listers to criticize the celebrity culture that some of them have engaged in, is hypocrisy at its best.
140 minutes is too long for a movie with not a whole lot to say. Satire doesn't have to be subtle, but it needs to know when its point has been made. I’m, of course, not saying that everything is fine; I’m only saying that McKay’s approach sucks.
Take care of the planet as much as you can and avoid trash like this.
Earring72
Dissapointing comedy drama. It isn't funny, the satire makes it point in the first 20 minutes and than goes on for 2 hours without adding anything new. Nice cast though.TheOnlyRogueAngel
Quite honestly, this could have done with more work. It seemed like the first draft was the one they went with and they weren't too concerned with the satire or the quality. On the plus side Meryl Streep is on point.nowhereman136
It tries to be a smarter "Idiocracy" but it loses its effectiveness over its lack of subtly.heat_
How broad the cast list is and how mediocre the movie is.Panunzio
Messy but fun.My friends and I had a good discussion about whether or not the dialogue was realistic, or completely overblown. As a satire, it's incredibly on the nose, but grapples with some big issues in a pretty fun way. Well worth a watch, and much better than other similar films like the Laundromat.
ucuruju
I didn't enjoy Vice at all and I'm not the biggest fan of The Big Short-- but this was much better than expected. Saw it with an audience and people were loving it. Critics were complaining about it being tonally inconsistent, but it's funny all the way through. Didn't find it cloying or too preachy. I find it less smug than McKay's previous two movies precisely because it is a fantasy and not real events told with the benefit of hindsight. I guess you could complain about it being a masochistic daydream about wanting to say "I told you so" so much that you're willing to die... but if it works it works. I liked it.BLJNBrouwer
"Hey look, can I sit down with your mom to have lunch in like seven months?"Adrian B AWESOME
Mark Cherry yelling "It's a satire!" from his home is a better satire than this dreck of a film.Showing items 1 – 15 of 41