Don't Look Up review: Fantastic performances by DiCaprio, Meryl Streep keep this extremely unfunny film afloat

Other actors such as Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Ariana Grande, Timothée Chalamet have nailed their roles in the film.

Source: Netflix

Don't Look Up

Story:

Don’t Look Up revolves around two low-level astronauts who must warn the world about an approaching comet that will destroy the planet Earth. Directed by Adam McKay, the satirical black comedy film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi, Cate Blanchett in key roles, among others.

Review:

We all have been bearing the brunt of natural calamities due to climate change. Whether it's tsunami, earthquakes, drought or floods, humans suffer a huge loss of property and lives. And, DiCaprio has been always vocal about environmental degradation and climate change. The actor has also been seen in multiple movies that talk about the same. He does so too in his latest outing on Netflix alongside some of the famous and acclaimed actors of Hollywood. The film is all about saving the planet but is treated with a different angle. 

The latest black comedy film chronicles the journey of two scientists to inform and educate people around the world about an alien object, which is about to hit the Earth and completely destroy it. The movie aimed to film scenes that can portray effortless humour along with a strong message. However, most of the shots seemed to be struggling with it. 

Adam McKay's direction didn’t do justice to the story that was written by himself along with David Sirota. The director’s vision with the experimental shot of running two-time slots parallelly as it creates confusion for the audience to keep up with the movie. 

In the beginning, the audience waits to witness something extraordinary as this multi-starrer film builds up, while they never get to see anything, which we generally expect from a space movie. Instead, the film possesses many soap opera elements such as betrayals, extra-marital affairs, police arrests and more. 

What can we watch Don’t Look Up for…?

Well, for starters, the acclaimed Hollywood actors. They are a part of the movie for that very reason, to make it tolerable and help the audience try and give it a watch. The stars including DiCaprio, Lawrence, Streep, Blanchett, Hill have nailed their roles and that’s what keeps the film afloat.

The film also reminds you of The Devil Wears Prada as Streep can once again be seen as a mean and selfish person. She plays the role of the President of the country and has a funny side to her.

Spoiler Alert! Chalamet’s entry towards the end does make the audience tolerate Don’t Look Up for a little longer, while the film’s one and the only pleasant surprising moment comes for the Indian audience when the Bollywood actor Ishaan Khatter enters the scene for a few seconds.

Meanwhile, Linus Sandgren’s cinematography along with the great visual effects is something to look out for in this diabolical piece of art.

As a movie buff, I would have loved the film if it would have been made with a serious tone and tried the least to be funny. 

Verdict:

Don’t look up could have been unworthy to watch. However, the audience can take a risk to watch the movie just for the good performances by most of the cast members.

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Cast and Crew

Tamara Hickey

Reporter Christy

Himesh Patel

Phillip

Rob Morgan

Dr. Clayton 'Teddy' Oglethorpe

Frank Ridley

Flight director Anderson

Ariana Grande

Riley Bina

Tyler Perry

Jack Bremmer

Ashleigh Banfield

Dalia Hensfield

Tomer Sisley

Adul Grelio

Ross Partridge

Keith Ollens

Timothée Chalamet

Quentin

Jennifer Lawrence

Kate Dibiasky

Susan Matheson

Melanie Lynskey

June

Jonah Hill

Jason Orlean

Linus Sandgren

Scott Mescudi

DJ Chello

Michael Chiklis

Leonardo DiCaprio

Dr. Randall Mindy

Cate Blanchett

Brie Evantee

Kyra Friedman Curcio

Nicholas Britell

Adam McKay

Meryl Streep

President Janie Orlean

Ron Perlman

Colonel Ben Drask

Mark Rylance

Peter Isherwell

Gina Gershon

Kathy logolos

Paul Guilfoyle

General themes

Matthew Perry

Caroline Bergwall

Teen Girl Friend

Therese Plaehn

Lance A. Williams

Daniel

Conor Sweeney

Marshall Mindy

Rebecca Gibel

Waitress

Nadia Sayess

Reporter

Edward Fletcher

Dr. Ginnerson

Ineke Garbacz

FBI Agent

Omar Khan

Bartender Alex

Brian Faherty

Guy From Bar

Nate Luis Silva

Environmental Control Specialist

Camille Farnan

White House Aide

Harold Rudolph

Rally Attendee

Alvin Keith

Harrison Telms

Jacob Sanditen

Friend

Marissa Carpio

Reporter with Big Hair

Jon DiVito

Shopper

Suzanne Gillies

Press Reporter

Andrew Haserlat

Mission Tech

Michael Jibrin

Federal Agent

Greg Kriek

Bash Military Sgt.

Meara Mahoney-Gross

Peter Isherwell Child Aide

Tom Mariano

Boston Police Officer

Lance Norris

Loyal Supporter

Nathan Porter

Reporter

Nate Richman

Stocky FBI Agent

Lizzie Short

French Reporter

Juan Szilagyi

Air Force soldier

Lewis D. Wheeler

Mission Coordinator

Meghan Leathers

Media Quant

Wes Johnson

Don't Look Upper

Dee Nelson

Dr. Lisa Inez

Ben Sidell

Sean

Omar Ghonim

Damain

Rob Lévesque

Secretary of the Interior

Billy Concha

Mr Conch

Kevin Craig West

Secretary of State Gleeson Berkers

Sam Xu

Translator

Steve Gagliastro

Onlooker

Jeff MacKinnon

News Director

Bill Mootos

Federal Attorney

Mikhail Yarovoy

Executive

Erik Parillo

Sheriff Conlon

Marko Caka

Reporter

Madison Donlan

News Woman

Johnny Halloran

White House Photographer

Ian Dylan Hunt

Press Member

Ken Kansky

Still Photographer

Sam Kombo

Tech Conference Attendant

Daphney Leigh

Camera Person

Scout Lyons

Skater girl

Michael Malvesti

Passerby #2

Marcus McDermott

Herald Newspaper Staff

Roman Mitichyan

Driver

Joseph Oliveira

Herald Reporter

Marinko Radakovic

Secret Service to

Mary Ann Schaub

NYC Pedestrian

Michael Stanton

RIP News Editor

Gary Tanguay

News Anchor

Breanna Wing

Meow Commercial Wife

Sam Zephir

Captain

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