Don’t Look Up

Expectations for Don’t Look Up were high, but rightfully so. An all-star cast, writer and producer Adam McKay, and Netflix promoting the film big time with a Christmas release. Was it ever possible for the film to live up to it’s supposed potential? How funny does a dark comedy have to be? Your answers to these questions probably determined if you enjoyed the movie.

First off, I would be wasting my time if I didn’t point out the stars of the film delivered. Jonah Hill was hilarious, Cate Blanchett did her thing, Timothee Chalamet stole the last twenty minutes, and Jennifer Lawrence was Jennifer Lawrence. Not to mention how spectacular Leonardo DiCaprio and Meryl Streep always are. They just don’t dissapoint! Oh, and a shoutout to Rob Morgan, who I thought was fantastic as Dr. Oglethorpe.

While the performances were memorable, I think Don’t Look Up struggled in it’s pacing. For a movie about an impending disaster where the characters are racing against the clock, the film definitely took it’s time. While Kid Cudi and Ariana Grande did the best they could with their limited (and unfortunately one-dimensional) roles, that storyline feels like the main section that could have been shortened. Even if it’s not that section, I just felt that after an opening sequence where we rushed to the White House as fast as possible, the next hour and forty five minutes could have been more frantic as well.

That being said, I really enjoyed the movie. I have a suspicion that those who did not enjoy Don’t Look Up felt that the film wasn’t funny enough. Should we evaluate the film as a standard comedy though? Most of the humor came from McKay simply putting the characters– often rooted in stock characters that we’re used to seeing everyday– in ridiculous situations and yelling “look at how dumb this is!” Outside of one line about fingerling potatoes, the movie wasn’t really laugh-out-loud funny– but it wasn’t supposed to be. The comedy was effective because instead of distracting from the message of the movie, the humor highlighted and enhanced it.

In addition, the end of the movie was spot-on. The reactions to the comet felt real and grounded in what we had come to expect from these characters. It hit an emotional note that resonated with me as well, forcing me to wrestle with what I would have done in the same situation. The montages reminded me of similar scenes in the Charlie Kaufman film Adaptation, and it had a similarly powerful effect.

Don’t Look Up had a whole lot to say, but I think the message came across effectively. Despite being a tad overwritten, the performances were outstanding and the film was well-crafted. Definitely worth the watch.