‘Don’t Look Up’ is a fun, albeit underwhelming, satirical commentary on society and the end of the world

This article contains spoilers for “Don’t Look Up.”

Netflix’s “Don’t Look Up” is a hilarious, yet surprisingly dark satire that uses an existential climate crisis to expose the shortcomings and ignorance of modern-day society, specifically through the lens of the American people. Writer-director, Adam McKay’s truly witty and stress-inducing dialogue shines throughout the film, in large part, due to the fantastic performances from a star-studded cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence. Also, the film is dictated by a rhythmic, powerful score from award-winning composer, Nicholas Britell. Despite that, the urgency of the message is somewhat mishandled due to jarring tonal shifts and a somewhat disjointed vision that lacks a cohesive through-line.

The story follows Michigan State Ph.D. candidate, Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), and her astronomy professor, Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonard DiCaprio) shortly after discovering that a gigantic comet is barreling toward Earth, which upon impact will cause global extinction.

McKay is no stranger when it comes to blurring the lines of reality and exaggeration through the use of satire (i.e., “Vice,” “The Big Short”), but “Don’t Look Up” gives him far more creative leeway than the aforementioned projects due to its fictional premise. Rather than being rooted in a true story, the film is instead “based on truly possible events,” a showcase and precursor of the clever wordplay that is present within the film’s fast-paced dialogue.

The two astronomers do their best to warn the public of this impending disaster by first meeting with an overtly self-indulgent and oblivious President Orlean (Meryl Streep) and her material-obsessed son and Chief of Staff, Jason (Jonah Hill). The absurd mother/son duo disregards the astronomers’ pleas for help and instead suggests that they simply “sit tight and assess.”

McKay’s decision to pit the naïve astronomers against a group of self-interested politicians results in an entertaining, yet stressful back and forth. The camerawork and framing during this sequence have a subtle, yet effective impact on the rising stress level. When the camera is focused on the Orleans it is typically a fluid wide shot that emulates their carefree response to what they downplay as a “potentially significant event.” This is in direct opposition to when the astronomers are in the frame. Often times it’s an extreme closeup that lingers on their worried expressions, which underscores the incredibly urgent matter at hand.

During their first meeting with the president, Mindy tries his best to describe the situation, but his explanation is bogged down by an increasingly nervous delivery of complicated scientific jargon. DiCaprio’s shaky voice and jittery tics paired with repeated close-ups convey the extreme feeling of anxiety that his character is feeling at that moment. This immediately creates a general sense of uneasiness that builds as the scene unfolds. Mindy’s sincere monologue is cut short when President Orlean and her son Jason interject with belittling remarks about how bored and confused they are.

Dibiasky and Dr. Oglethorpe (Rob Morgan), the head of planetary defense, try their best to simplify Mindy’s explanation and translate how dire the circumstances are, but are also met with more insulting quips. Jason mocks Mindy’s “weird” breathing and ridicules Dibiasky’s “Boy with the Dragon Tattoo” inspired appearance. Hill’s performance as a tone-deaf mommy’s boy is hilariously cringe-worthy in the best ways possible and his moments are some of the funniest in the entire film.

With only six months until the comet’s inevitable collision with Earth, Dibiasky and Mindy take matters into their own hands by leaking the news to the press in hopes of forcing the government to act. They find it shockingly difficult to cut through the frenzy of political polarization and celebrity gossip that overwhelms the daily news cycle and ultimately fail to convince the American public that they should take this existential threat seriously. After an unsuccessful media appearance on The Daily Rip, a light-hearted morning show hosted by Jack Bremmer (Tyler Perry) and Brie Evantee (Cate Blanchett), Dibiasky and Mindy begin to drift apart after seeing the public’s social media reaction. The former becomes a national celebrity, losing sight of what’s important, and the latter becomes a social outcast, losing hope in humanity.

Britell’s score (one of the film’s four Oscar nominations) is primarily featured during a multitude of montage sequences used to speed up the pace of the film and move the plot forward. As the inevitable collision draws nearer, the chaotic nature of the composition grows with each succeeding appearance. In the final scene, Mindy, Oglethorpe, and Dibiasky put their differences aside and come together for a Last Supper-esque meal as the comet’s impact is just moments away. As the table shakes, windows crack, and walls burst, an unexpected sense of eerie peace blankets the scene. The astronomers are finally satisfied with their efforts to warn society and they can find solace in that they tried their absolute best. Rather than have the score reach a roaring climax, Britell opts instead for a melancholic theme laced with twinkly chords that slowly fade as utter destruction befalls around the characters.

“Don’t Look Up” is a genuinely entertaining, absurd fresh take on a movie about the end of the world that features stellar acting and hilarious one-liners. With that being said, its inability to fully commit to the bleak reality of its premise makes it an underwhelming commentary on climate change and society’s lack of action to address that issue. There are several moments when the film is on the precipice of making an important point just to revert back to slapstick comedy and although that makes it a more enjoyable popcorn flick, it downplays the seriousness of the film’s message.