Don't Look Up

This is of course social and political satire, and it is sad how much of it rings true. It can be difficult to satirize the excesses of the rich and famous — or even the redneck poor — and the social media juggernaut. But the script clicks on all cylinders a lot of the time and entertains as it eviscerates. I have always liked Mark Ryland’s roles, and this is a real departure for him as the media giant and third richest human ever. But I mostly found it difficult to like Dr. Mindy as he gradually adjusts his beliefs and personality to suit his new fame. My sympathy was with his wife and family, afterthoughts for 95% of the movie. But it was an entertaining movie and I would be willing to watch it again someday, not because of the serious issues it raised (slightly) but just to catch more of the social media and television images that flash across the screen too quickly to take them all in. The social media satire works better, I think, than the political side, which seemed sometimes to just choose an actual person and thrust a version of them into the scene.