Early reactions for Don't Look Up are praising the Leonardo DiCaprio's new comedy as an early Oscar contender. The latest politically-themed satire from writer/director Adam McKay centers on two low-level astronomers (DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) who discover a massive comet hurling towards Earth that has the potential to destroy the planet. After they try to warn the US government's highest-ranking officials to no avail, the two scientists embark on a giant media tour to warn the world of the impending apocalypse, though they are met repeatedly with flippancy.
The film has assembled one of the most phenomenal ensemble casts of the year, rivaling that of Denis Villeneuve's Dune. Other than DiCaprio and Lawrence in the leading roles, Don't Look Up stars Meryl Streep as the US President and Jonah Hill as her son and Chief of Staff, while Matthew Perry and Chris Evans appear as officials in their cabinet. Tyler Perry and Cate Blanchett play the hosts of a morning talk show. Don't Look Up's cast also includes Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, and Ariana Grande, the latter of whom fittingly portrays a pop singer.
Now that Don't Look Up has begun its industry screenings, the first reactions have started popping up on social media. The critical consensus appears to be positive, with many deeming the film a major Oscar contender. Check out a roundup of the reactions below.
Ever since Adam McKay shifted from making wacky Will Ferrell comedies like Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and Step Brothers to politically-conscious comedy-dramas like The Big Short and Vice, his films have been a favorite amongst the Academy. His 2015 feature, which focused on the financial crisis of 2008 was nominated for 5 Oscars, including a win for McKay's adapted screenplay. He went on to top that with his unconventional Dick Cheney biopic in 2018, which garnered 8 nominations and a win for Makeup and Hairstyling.
Don't Look Up's release is shaping up to be quite timely considering it was originally intended as an allegory for the US government's response to climate change, though after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the response by the Trump administration, the film can now be viewed in an entirely different light. Nevertheless, the film is drawing comparisons to some of the most critically-acclaimed political satires of all time such as Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove and Barry Levinson's Wag the Dog. Whether or not Don't Look Up lives up to those lofty comparisons will be seen when the film begins streaming December 24 on Netflix.
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