Maybe 20, even 10 years ago I would have said that a satirical movie about an asteroid destroying Earth would probably be in poor taste, but Adam McKay’s new film, Don’t Look Up is a home run. It’s the kind of movie we need to remind us of how absurd human beings, especially those in government can really be. It’s an extremely funny movie and audiences are sure to laugh, but then probably get dismayed knowing how it really is when it comes to the incompetence of government officials, who don’t believe in science while trying to solve a crisis. If you liked the Big Short, which had a satirical and disturbing look about the 2008 financial crisis, then you will certainly like this film and hope that the situation never occurs so that we have to rely on non-scientific people to save humanity. Don’t Look Up is one of my favorite films of 2021. It’s hilarious! It’s so absurd that it speaks more truth more than the best documentaries. And the release of this film is perfectly timed to serve as a reminder of how stupid humans can really be. It will end up being one of the best movies, Netflix has ever made. Personally, I’m a big fan of Adam McKay when it comes to his dark humor. Of course, I’ve loved every film he did with Will Ferrell that was just borderline stupid like Talladega Nights or Anchorman, these films will keep you laughing, but the dark humor tends to speak more truth and he has a habit of touching upon subjects that not only make us laugh but serve as a warning to humanity to how they can be better. I would even say that Don’t Look Up is a hopeful movie in the sense that it shows us what not to do and to be better than we really are.

The movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence is about two scientists who find a comet that is going to hit Earth. It’s a planet killer and there’s no way to avoid it even when government officials want to deny the science and act like it’s one big conspiracy. That seems to mimic real life, doesn’t it! And although maybe part of humanity could be saved and start over, it’s always the stupid government officials that deny science and always have the misfortune of being in charge thus becoming humanity’s worst enemy. This movie is almost perfect and gives us a great cast that not only can be serious at the right moments, but can also make us laugh when the situation is so absurd. And I have to admit, this is one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s best movies because he’s not so over the top that his character is annoying. Everything he does seems to be perfectly timed for the situation, that he makes his character sympathetic.  He lets the fame of being one of the scientists who discovers the comet go to his head to where he does things he never thought he would do like having an affair. But even when he’s over the top in this film, it’s perfectly timed, but you believe in this character without being annoyed. I never thought I would actually like Meryl Streep playing a President who’s utterly stupid and unlikable, but then again, it’s Meryl Streep and has she ever really done a bad role. She was great in this movie. And Jonah Hill deserves credit for playing the nitwit douchebag son of the president. Not only is the movie good, but the cast makes it better. I found myself constantly laughing at these little subtle jokes that just made me laugh at the absurdity of humanity. And as I mentioned before, this field really is kind of a mirror too what we had to deal with during the Trump administration and why it’s important that we actually have people in charge who believe in science. Just like Adam McKay’s, The Big Short… Everything seems to work in this film and will keep you laughing until the end, even when dealing with the tragedy of the situation. At the same time, like a perfect sarcastic joke, Don’t look Up dispenses more truth then we see in storytelling.

Now the film isn’t perfect and very rarely is any film perfect. But I have minor complaints. This is a movie that I would definitely watch again. In fact, I think it’s a movie that needs to be watched more than once by people. But if there is anything to really complain about then I would say that it’s the misuse of its cast. There’s no denying that Adam McKay found great actors for every role, but as a director, you have to let your great cast be the great actors they’re supposed to be. I’ll start with Tyler Perry. Wonderful actor, wonderful writer, and even his worst movie is still entertaining. He brings a lot of charisma to the big screen, but I felt like his role could have been done by anyone as he plays a self-indulgent TV host that doesn’t care about anything else except his own fame. It’s really a minor role for somebody like Tyler Perry, and while I’m glad to have him in this movie because I like him and everything he does in film, I feel like the role is too minor for somebody like Tyler Perry. The same goes with Melanie Lynskey, who plays Leonardo DiCaprio’s wife in the movie. She’s a fabulous actress. Not only is she extremely funny, but as someone who’s had some great dramatic roles over the last 25 years. To reduce somebody like her to a simple housewife that doesn’t really have any strong moments until she confronts her husband about his affair, that’s a role that anybody could do, and you should allow somebody like her to do more on the big screen. Or maybe you should just watch her in Yellowjackets on Showtime where she’s allowed her full potential as an actress.  I understand how some actors want a small cameo in a film, but if they’re supposed to be a major character that helps steer the story, then give that character more to do and don’t waste the talents of your cast. Honestly, I wish that I had seen more from these characters because of the talented actors you have playing them. It’s just a waste of their talent in this movie, although when they are on screen, they make the scenes better.

Overall, this is an incredibly funny film by Adam McKay. It is the perfect definition of satire and definitely makes you think, unlike his previous comedies. With a great ensemble cast, Adam McKay delivers another poignant satire and commentary on our society, especially about the people we choose to represent us. We should demand better from our elected officials, especially when it comes to intelligence. I don’t know if anybody will win an Oscar for this film, but Don’t Look Up is poignant and keeps laughing right until the end. It’s a great movie to go see in the theater, but it’s a perfect movie to watch over and over again on Netflix. I feel that you will probably have to watch it more than once to catch all the jokes. Some movies try to be too satirical and absurd that they’re largely forgettable. But this movie won’t be because it is the perfect critique of humanity and no matter what tragic circumstances they fall upon us, I think this film just reminds us that we have to laugh at the absurdity that is life itself when humanity is in control. Somebody once said that the greatest tragedies are comedies… Don’t Look Up fits that definition to a “T” and that’s why it’s a movie that everyone should watch.