An earthly annihilation by a giant space rock might not equate to comedy for many people, but the recent release of “Don’t Look Up” might be the first case. A direct nod to the United States’ environmental ignorance, director Adam McKay’s latest film hit theaters on Dec. 10. The highly anticipated political satire broke a Netflix record when it later arrived on the streaming platform. The movie attracted the most viewing hours in a single week, surpassing smash hits like “Bird Box.”
In familiar science-fiction fashion, the film follows amateur astronomers Kate Dibiasky, played by Jennifer Lawrence, and Dr. Randall Mindy, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The two embark on a media tour after discovering an apocalyptic meteor hurtling towards Earth, battling the theatrics and insincerity of mainstream media along the way. Lawrence, whose character is fiery and fierce, complements DiCaprio’s midwestern, geeky portrayal of Dr. Mindy. Each playing an unassuming role, the two Hollywood powerhouses give a phenomenal performance.
McKay’s script offers multiple opportunities for a scathing joke, playing on the film’s eerie similarities to today’s world. The exaggerated group of politicians, scientists, journalists and military personnel is slapstick enough to enjoy its bare plotline, but familiar enough to make anyone worry about the future of the planet. Key moments, however, fall short of McKay’s suspected vision for the story. Unnecessary celebrity cameos and too blunt of political references prove to be some of the film’s weak points.
Meryl Streep portrays President Orlean, a radical politician claiming that the comet does not exist. An obvious nod to former President Donald Trump, the character sports a red hat and holds rallies in favor of the “Don’t Look Up” movement. While Streep’s performance is comically on-brand, the allusion at times comes off as entirely too blunt and loses much of the subtle richness that otherwise makes the film a commentating masterpiece.
Ariana Grande plays the role of Riley Bina, a devilish diva pop star who represents the insincerity of celebrities in the media. In the character’s promotional single for the opposing “Just Look Up” movement, Grande’s vocals shine over the lyrics “Turn off the sh*tbox news. You’re about to die soon, everybody.” A highlight of the film, the superstar’s ironic representation of contemporary celebrities is filled with notable quotes.
Another shining star, Jonah Hill, provides the most straightforward comedic relief. Working as the president’s quirky sidekick, Hill delivers a solid interpretation of the White House’s widely suspected internal immaturity and unprofessionalism.
While the movie’s success lends a large portion to its sparkling cast list of household names, their actual importance in the storyline often feels unnecessary and forced. Timothée Chalamet, one of the biggest names in today’s film world, is introduced at an awkward point in the storyline. His arbitrary entrance comes across as a reach for relevancy and an excuse to add him to the credits. A cocktail of A-listers does not always indicate a guaranteed hit, and in this case, it can even become distracting.
Still, “Don’t Look Up” is jam-packed with memorable moments that will leave any viewer pondering their part in political propaganda. Arriving at the perfect time, the United States’ divisiveness and level of civil unrest is a topic that most major filmmakers have avoided for the duration of the pandemic.
A call to action, McKay’s wildly entertaining script pokes fun at an otherwise worldly-demanding issue. Repressing the ignorance of modern-day decision-makers towards global warming, the film emphasizes how easy it is to let these pressing problems sweep under the rug.
While there’s an ongoing debate between critics on whether the movie’s comet is a nod to COVID-19 or climate change, watching the film with either lens lands audiences in the same place. Either topic– as taboo as they might be in cinema– contributes to the main purpose of “Don’t Look Up:” prioritize the real threats and don’t be distracted by the rest, otherwise it might be too late.
“Don’t Look Up” is available on Netflix and still playing in select theaters.
