REVIEW: DON'T LOOK UP

4/5

It's The End Of The World As We Know It...And I Feel Meh.

138 Mins. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi, Himesh Patel, Melanie Lynskey, Cate Blanchett & Meryl Streep. Director: Adam McKay. 

If the world was going to end in six months, what would you do? Who would you call? Or would you just scroll through your phone like it was just another day wasted as you 'Don't Look Up? The innovative writer/director of 'The Big Short' and 'Vice' Adam McKay explores this planetary quandary in his new hit disaster comedy for Netflix. Ever since he traded 'Anchorman', 'Talladega Nights' and 'The Other Guys' and seemingly sadly 'Step Brother' Will Ferrell for more political pointed satire as sharp as his subterfuge, McKay has become one of the freshest and best directors in the biz. He and John C. Reilly are about to change the game on HBO with Jerry Buss for 'Winning Time', a new series based on the 80's Magic led Showtime of the Los Angeles Lakers in all its purple and gold. But before that Adam's apple has the gold standard of another epic ensemble of all-stars that could head to the Academy of LA this February. He did the same with no shortage of superstars in 'The Big Short' (Bale, Carell, Gosling, Pitt) and then brought half of them back and more for his 'Vice' cabinet. Now with that Netflix money he gets to do the same and play around with even more big names worthy of a legendary legacy and one of the biggest movies on the planet this year in turn. The only thing bigger? The comet that's heading to earth with an 100% (or 99.something or other, like when Michael Jordan said he was 99.9999 and all those other 9's sure he wasn't coming back out of retirement again to the NBA. Good, so it's not 100% then, right?) chance of deep impact in this armageddon. And this time Michael Bay isn't training a team of drillers to be astronauts led by Ben Affleck who thought (like we all did) that they should have really done this the other way 'round. "Shut the f### up!" Because between the red hats and the pacifists the apathetic reaction to this world disaster is pathetic. It sort of reminds you of a certain vaccine and mask wearing hesitancy during our truly socially distant time of COVID-19. It's 2020 all over again. 

"The handsome astronomer can come back anytime, but the yelling lady, not so much." That handsome Dan is actually Leo. The AILF. Astronomer I'd like to...well, you know the rest. And Leonardo DiCaprio thought he had it bad on the disaster of the 'Titanic' when Kate Winslet wouldn't give him any room on that raft. Like 'Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood' right hand man Brad Pitt said in his 'Best Supporting Actor' acceptance speech at the Oscars...we would have schooched over. These days the end of the world is treated like a meme. And whilst DiCaprio dials up the trademark anxiety of his conflicted man to 11, Jennifer Lawrence is already there with red hair and a nose ring. And how good is it to have one of our best actors back after she started a family? Now sharing top billing with arguably the most acclaimed actor in Hollywood here. DO look up! This paired performance is perfect as they punctuate (DiCaprio can shout and boy so can Lawrence) and power each other to the finish...or is this the end? They'll need help too. And they have that in the form of Netflix everyman Rob Morgan. Whilst reviewing Sandra Bullock's new movie 'The Unforgivable' we talked about how Morgan and his lifetime Netflix deal are in everything. And that's nothing to apologise for. But here, he's truly something else. Shining amongst all the stars. Jonah Hill's super, super bad son of the President, defining puerile privilege and someone who definitely got his underqualified job on a recommendation. As sure as the fact that he learnt how to talk from Vince Vaughn's pimp in 'Be Cool'. But Hill plays it all perfectly. All the way to the end, left holding the handbag. Then there's Mark Rylance's super weird and surface wonderful tech billionaire CEO with plenty of Musk. The good (God) morning plastic positivity of 'Vice's' Colin Powell (Rest Peacefully) Tyler Perry and bombshell Cate Blanchett's (not since Tilda Swinton in 'Trainwreck' have we seen someone from the Academy play down so perfectly) television anchors that could make Burgundy blush. A trumped up Ron Perlman shooting bullets at the asteroid dubbed a "planet killer" ("he's from another time"). A scene stealing and even more shaggy as Joe Exotic like requested Timothée Chalamet, late in the game (he was busy watching is part in 'Dune'). Ariana Grande and Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi) playing parody pop stars...you think this isn't much of a stretch? Just watch! Himesh Patel of 'Yesterday' fame blogging like there's no tomorrow (there isn't). A heartfelt Melanie Lynskey (yes the neighbour that used to stalk Charlie Sheen in 'Two and a Half Men' playing house) amongst the best of all the greatest actors here. And legend of legend Meryl Streep finally playing POTUS like the Queen deserves. But one that could almost make Trump look sane. Almost...we said almost. 

Stop worrying and learn how to love the bomb...or fireball that's hurtling towards earth. Because Birdman, this unexpected virtue of ignorance gives us the sickest satire since 'Dr. Strangelove'. Making America dumb again, this one will even leave the staunchest MAGA members scratching their red necks. That's what happens when the Oval Office is full of photographs of the leader of the free world and Steven Segal. This one is under siege...and the thing laying waste came from outer space. Watch this one! The core of what's in store her could well as be a story about the planets coronavirus pandemic. Forget a metaphor. But this is closer to the climate crisis that is already at epidemic levels. Scientists giving a second opinion to 'Don't Look Up' say it looks awfully like the madness they see on a daily basis. Because after all like the trailer says, this movie is "based on real events". "That haven't happened...yet" . Pay attention. It doesn't have to be prophecy when it's a world damned certainty. God has nothing to do with this. We do. So get your finger out your ass and stop sucking the thumb of inaction. We're literally fingerings the trigger, palming the very destruction of this third rock as we twiddle our thumbs...or keep them scrolling. This perfect parody is as matter of fact an actuality. You have been warned. But alas will we pay heed when critics and fans have been divided on a movie that could even put Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot's biggest Netflix opening 'Red' version on notice? Just like the dividing lines of the "United" States of America. What a state this reflection is in with those who are urging us to "Just Look Up", whilst others want to put this movies title on a crimson cap as Streep dances across the stage passively and blissfully ignorant like Theresa May robot walking to the podium. Slick editing in direction like no other, all the way to the words across the screen, a killer soundtrack and classic cameos (a very big American actor looks like he's doing his best continuation of a parodying character from a previous movie against the world. Although Matthew Perry was cut for time, Friends. No one told him life was gonna be this way. Clap. Clap. Clap) is Adam McKay's calling card. But there's more substance to his style here. And if we as an audience in this watching world don't abuse that. Then things actually could look up. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'The Big Short', 'Vice', 'Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb'.