# Don’t look up. Netflix film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** netflix, movies\ **Created:** [December 27, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737 "2021-12-27T18:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/21 "2021-12-28T02:08:09Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Was the Streep character a combination of some real life people or just a riff on a generic politician? Was Cate Blanchett supposed to be a Mika Brezinski - Megan Fox hybrid or something else? And why was Mark Rylance recycling his character from Ready Player One? I’m with the OP that Meryl Streep’s character = Trump and Mark Rylance’s character = Elon Musk. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/22 "2021-12-28T02:47:46Z")
I thought it was pretty incredible. Too long, but still, spot on. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/23 "2021-12-28T03:34:09Z")
Enjoyable, nothing to wright home about. I was a bit concerned partway through that the science was going to be proven wrong, would have broken the whole point of the movie. The bronterac bit was good. A bit too long. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/24 "2021-12-28T06:10:51Z")
It was okay. Its satire was more of a take on COVID than global warming; DiCaprio’s character being a spoof on Dr. Fauci. The funniest bit was the General that scams them on White House snacks and his motives becoming the great unanswered question. A lot of the farce was uncomfortably close to reality. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/25 "2021-12-28T06:16:29Z")
I thought the movie was dreadful, and I’m a good liberal in complete agreement with the viewpoints expressed by the movie. “Satire” is not the same as “hit people over the head with a sledgehammer.” ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/26 "2021-12-28T07:23:02Z")
It doesn’t work well on Climate change. It fits like a glove for COVID. Which is why it made so many people (including on this thread) uncomfortable. It was written for climate change and like Dr Strangelove, it was over the top purposely. Unfortunately between writing and filing Covid struck and what was over the top, became reality. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/27 "2021-12-28T11:02:55Z")
Anyone else keep seeing Jennifer Lawrence as Janeane Garofalo? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/28 "2021-12-28T11:07:25Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Which is why it made so many people (including on this thread) uncomfortable. It didn’t make me uncomfortable, it made me bored. It is a poorly-made clunker. > **[Critics are bashing the #1 movie on Netflix right now](https://bgr.com/entertainment/tons-of-critics-are-bashing-the-1-movie-on-netflix-right-now/)** > > It may be the #1 movie on Netflix right now. But one "Don't Look Up" review after another is ripping the movie to shreds. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/29 "2021-12-28T13:45:50Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > It doesn’t work well on Climate change. > It fits like a glove for COVID. Which is why it made so many people (including on this thread) uncomfortable. > It was written for climate change and like Dr Strangelove, it was over the top purposely. Unfortunately between writing and filing Covid struck and what was over the top, became reality. The comet itself ( and our real world problems with COVID-19 and global warming) aren’t what make me uncomfortable about the movie. What disturbed me is how close to reality they came with their fictionalized version of a corrupt presidential administration and how the followers of that president remain blindly loyal despite all the evidence staring the in the face. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/30 "2021-12-28T14:11:20Z")
It wasn’t great cinema, but it was entertaining. I don’t mind the obvious satire. I thought the Just look up/Don’t look up dichotomy was a perfect send up of the right left divide. If it wasn’t for low standards, I couldn’t watch any TV at all. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/31 "2021-12-28T14:20:34Z")
I thought it a very effective take on the absorption with and dangers of social media/technology. I did not see it as “political” or about any single issue as many of you suggest. Sure, there were the baseball caps and chants, and the incompetent/corrupt president. I thought Leonardo and Jennifer were entertaining as all get out. And LOVED the scamming general! ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/32 "2021-12-28T16:15:33Z")
It was fine, maybe even better than it appears (see below). It’s not a horrible film like some are making it out to be, but not immediately super clever either. I had several good laughs at points, but much of the rest of the film was just…depressingly on point. The parts about politicizing science, the weird role social media plays in society, tech leader worship, it was all depicted and satirized well. I don’t think it gives anyone particularly good feelings, though, in a way most normal satire does. Either because people watch it and have an aha moment that connects dots previously unseen or people watch it and get to feel smug about having their point of view validated. And I’m not sure that’s a problem with the film or it further exemplifies the point of the film that the problem is us, even as an audience, being unwilling to take a long hard look at something unless it tickles our immediate gratification instincts somehow. So while I wouldn’t say I loved it, I do have this nagging feeling it might have more long term appeal than it’s being given right now. I’ll go read some replies to other topics and see if that feeling goes away, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/33 "2021-12-28T17:06:01Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > … The parts about politicizing science, the weird role social media plays in society, tech leader worship, it was all depicted and satirized well. I don’t think it gives anyone particularly good feelings, though, in a way most normal satire does. … Not to pick on you, but does satire generally give people “god feelings?” Any specific examples? Wag the Dog? Dr. Strangelove? I’m surprised at the number of comments that suggest that people were made uncomfortable because it was so on point. And I didn’t see the clear liberal/conservative dichotomy. They seemed happy to skewer folk of all persuasions. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/34 "2021-12-28T17:26:32Z")
The negative reviews I’ve seen object to its unsubtle preachiness, regardless of its place on the political spectrum. Perhaps the expected result of a three minute Funny or Die concept stretched to two hours. I’ll hold judgment until after the Babylon Bee talks the God is Not Dead franchise’s people out of a few million bucks for comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/35 "2021-12-28T17:48:58Z")
You all have convinced me to skip it, but I has to know. Does the comet destroy the earth? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/36 "2021-12-28T17:58:15Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Does the comet destroy the earth? I’m not going to say, but I will add that IMO, the ending was one of the best parts of the movie. It was well done, and interesting. I do agree the movie is a bit heavy handed, but still watchable and with some good parts. I don’t regret spending time watching it. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/37 "2021-12-28T18:11:35Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > And I didn’t see the clear liberal/conservative dichotomy. They seemed happy to skewer folk of all persuasions. The President is supposed to be a Democrat FWIW and the bit about them doubting Leo and JLaw’s characters until their claims are confirmed by “Ivy League and Stanford experts” is a direct hit at Obama’s penchant for placing an inordinate amount of trust in such types of people during the financial crises. It’s pretty hard on leftists as well that’s what I am saying. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/38 "2021-12-28T18:22:28Z")
Good premise, mediocre execution and in the end the whole thing is too shouty and over the top though I have to admit I rather enjoyed it anyway and also found the final family dinner quite moving. The film reminded me of the 1970s film Network which I also found too shouty and over the top though that film is considered a classic while this has gotten fairly poor reviews. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/39 "2021-12-28T18:40:00Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Perhaps the expected result of a three minute Funny or Die concept stretched to two hours. I was thinking a good (one-parter) _South Park_ episode. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737/40 "2021-12-28T18:41:36Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > It’s pretty hard on leftists as well that’s what I am saying. Yeah. And the nutty Musk/Jobs guy. Rich, but does that = conservative/Repub? Same w/ the self absorbed singer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-t-look-up-netflix-film/956737.md?page=3)