Don’t Look Up

Don’t Look Up is Adam McKay’s latest satire. Leonardo DiCaprio is Michigan University professor Randall Mindy, Jennifer Lawrence PhD candidate Kate Dibiaski, who discovers a comet heading towards Earth in what will be an extinction-level impact. Taken to the White House to meet the President (Meryl Streep) and her Chief of Staff (Jonah Hill) to explain the impending collision, they are surprised to find convincing the President and the wider world of the planet-killing event is more difficult than they expect. With self-interest, misinformation, apathy and a media more interested in celebrity relationships all getting in the way of making clear the need to act.

I’ve enjoyed a lot of McKay’s work previously especially his expose films, The Big Short and Vice which shine lights in dark corners of the establishment. The reality of events they portray really engaged me. But the fictional premise here did lessen the impact of Don’t Look Up.

That’s not to say that this is a film that I didn’t enjoy or has nothing to say. The comet acts as a metaphor for our impending environmental crisis and McKay hammers home a cutting look at modern society. A morally bankrupt government who in the face of facts that show the impact of their stupidity, deflect, encourage division and distract with bluster. A shallow media, people swayed by online theories over facts. All have you shaking your head at the absurdity of it. However, as I mentioned the fictional premise and some rather long storytelling do lessen the stories impact.

While the message is less than subtle the all-star cast is a joy to watch delivering it. And while the comedy doesn’t hit every time it does more often than not. And to its credit, it doesn’t shy away from the consequences of letting the idiots win in a touchingly shot ending.

Don’t Look Up didn’t have the impact of some of McKay’s other films, it is overly long and lacks some of the intelligence of something like The Big Short. But there is a message In there for us all and enough to keep you shaking your head and, worryingly, laughing at the absurdity of the world we have created.