Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up is a textbook satire that sparked intense public debate about existential threats, particularly climate change. Starring an ensemble cast of A-list actors like Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Timothée Chalamet, and Cate Blanchett, Don’t Look Up took Netflix by storm upon its release in 2021, becoming the second most-watched film ever on the platform. Reportedly, the film was streamed by about half a billion people globally. - YouTube The narrative follows two brilliant scientists, Dr. Randall Mindy and Dr. Kate Dibiasky, on a giant media tour as they make desperate attempts to warn the world about an approaching comet that will 100% destroy the Earth and lead to the extinction of mankind, but every single person outrightly refuses to believe them. Interestingly, Don’t Look Up garnered a polarizing response, with some praising its satirical boldness while others critiqued the narrative as heavy-handed or “not really funny.”However, something that is often overlooked yet deserves a special mention is how the film simultaneously satirizes Hollywood storytelling conventions. In this article, we’re exploring how Don’t Look Up is a satire of screenwriting tropes. Here’s How “Don’t Look Up” Functions as a Satire of Screenwriting Tropes1. The Failed Genius ProtagonistsDr. Randall Mindy and Kate Dibiasky, the two leads, come under the “brilliant yet underappreciated scientist’ trope—the ones that are often placed in a narrative to simplify exposition. The movie pokes fun at how such archetypes are often reduced to mere plot devices, rather than developed characters, depriving them...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Yesterday