'Don't Look Up' has been trending for weeks now—but is it all worth the hype?
Introducing: Tatler Takes, your weekend guide to movies you must watch—or not. Today, we're asking our Tatler friends about their personal takes on some of the world's most talked-about films. We ask whether they loved it or hate it; and whether we should add it to our own weekend lineups.
This week, we're catching up with Adam McKay's Don't Look Up. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, Don't Look Up is a sardonic comedy disaster film that's part entertainment and part social commentary.
Read more: 10 New Netflix Shows and Movies to Watch in February 2022
After astronomers Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) and Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardi Dicaprio) discover a comet hurtling towards Earth, they race to warn the entire world about its deadly impact. Yet, surprisingly enough, no one seems to care. With only six months left until the comet crashes onto the planet, Kate and Dr. Randsll wonder: what will it take to get the world to look up?
So is it a yes or a no from our Tatler friends? Let's find out:
1. Kaye Tinga
Did you enjoy the film? Please tell us why yes or no.
Although the intentions of the cast and crew may have been in the right place, after taking up two-and-a-half hours of my time, I can't say I loved the film. The satire in Don't Look Up is not subtle nor biting nor humorous, it is smug and self-congratulatory over hitting low-hanging fruit. This is no Dr. Strangelove or Wag the Dog. Good intentions don't shield it from audience expectations to be entertained, instead of feeling talked down to. In fact, if concerned about climate change while still wanting your Leo fix, a better use of time would be the Dicaprio-produced documentaries like Before the Flood or The 11th Hour, you'll at least learn something you might not have already known.
What do you think needed to improve?
I think the star-studded ensemble cast didn't help its cause. Not being able to spend a long enough time with any character to understand them made the film purely message-driven, which is difficult to watch as a viewer for two-and-a-half straight hours. I desperately wanted to like the movie because of its message and the stellar cast, perhaps the reason I was doubly disappointed with the end product.
