Don't Look Up (2021) Movie Review

In his latest movie "Don't Look Up," Adam McKay, the filmmaker behind "Anchorman" and "The Big Short," attempts to blend his comedic and dramatic instincts to provide commentary on social media, technology, global warming, and celebrity culture. However, the result is a disastrous movie that falls flat on its face. The casting is the only redeeming quality of the film, thanks to the work of casting director Francine Maisler, who assembles an all-star cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Tyler Perry, and Ariana Grande, among others.

The film follows Dr. Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio), a low-level astronomer from Michigan, and his assistant, Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), who make a terrifying discovery that a comet is coming for planet Earth in six months and 14 days. They quickly try to inform the world, but their message falls on deaf ears, as people are more interested in the latest scandal than the end of the world.

The President of the United States, played by Meryl Streep, finally takes a meeting with them, but she is more concerned about her polling numbers and upcoming primaries than the apocalypse. Meanwhile, Jonah Hill plays her sociopathic son and chief of staff, who is reduced to easy bro jokes. The film tries to needle the viewer with the joke that no one cares about the end of the world as much as the latest distracting scandal.

Mindy and Dibiasky then take their message to the media, but they are met with banter-heavy morning shows, where producers try to smooth their story into a cutesy scientific discovery. The astronomers become the media distraction themselves, and their message is not taken seriously. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance on a "Sesame Street"-like show, where he screams "We're all going to die," is one of the few inspired moments in the film.

Despite the film's star-studded cast, most of the characters are not stretched out enough in this high-art spoof. Cate Blanchett's character is one of the best in the game, but McKay makes her plastic and cheap. Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Tyler Perry, Melanie Lynskey, and Timothée Chalamet are all wasted on this movie's limited sense of humor. Rob Morgan, who plays a nothing sidekick to Lawrence and DiCaprio, is just as good as them, but his character is underdeveloped.

The film's plotting is anti-urgent, and it fails to say anything new about how misinformation became a political cause or how scandals are the true opiate for the masses. It certainly has little to offer about the role technology plays in this, with Mark Rylance playing a half-Elon Musk, quarter-Joe Biden tech guru who calls the shots even more than POTUS.

Adam McKay is known for his populist brilliance, as seen in "Anchorman" and "The Big Short." However, he is mightily thwarted by the larger scope of "Don't Look Up." The film only dreams of being insightful about social media, technology, global warming, celebrity culture, and human existence. Instead, it falls flat on its face with its anti-provocative jokes and failed attempts at humor.

In conclusion, "Don't Look Up" is a disastrous movie that fails to deliver its message or entertain its audience. The only redeeming quality of the film is its all-star cast, who are all wasted on the movie's limited sense of humor. Adam McKay's attempt to blend his comedic and dramatic instincts falls short, leaving audiences with a disappointing experience.