![]() Prior to seeing the comet, everyone was divided - be it because of arguments about the comet’s existence, social media’s obsession with Kate’s reaction to people not taking it seriously, political ideologies, etc. In a crucial moment, everyone stops what they’re doing to actually look up at the night sky, and it’s at that moment where a true sense of harmony between the world’s population is fully realized. Its message is essentially that everyone needs to work together, to put the needs of others and the planet above individual desires and opinions. While the film is indeed a metaphor for climate change, Don’t Look Up’s story is primarily about the characters. For most of the movie, people are divided on the information Randall and Kate provide and avoid the obvious, refusing to look up at the truth. It was something that made him lose sight of himself as well.ĭon’t Look Up underscores its message about people. Don’t Look Up gives Randall a reality check near the end of the film, but he became much like the general public in many ways, too distracted by other things to focus on the importance of the mission surrounding the comet. Being thrown onto the world’s stage gave him too much of an ego boost and garnering sexual attention from Brie sent him over the edge, abandoning that which made him someone to root for at the beginning. Randall starts to feel self-important after all, it’s been years since the scientist published anything and he’s spent the last several years of his life studying the galaxy and hidden away. He’s designated the voice of reason, whereas Kate’s shouting makes her the butt of jokes and a meme, and he’s made famous in ways that he couldn't have dreamt of ever being. However, Randall gets distracted by the attention that he gets in proximity to fame. It’s surprising that he would even cheat on his wife June with Brie Evantee, the co-host of The Daily Rip. The film’s characters manage to avoid addressing the severity of the comet at all, which speaks to the high levels of disengagement that prevents them from doing so.Īt the start of Don’t Look Up, it’s hard to believe that a soft-spoken, anxious public speaker like Randall - who is committed to the truth about the comet’s arrival - would stray from his mission at all. What’s more, the population’s attention is constantly being diverted by other things: President Orlean’s supreme court scandal, memes, conspiracy theories, technology that aims to read one’s feelings, social media platforms, celebrity break-ups the list goes on and on. Related: Why New Blood's Humor Doesn't Work (But Original Dexter's Did) Randall and Kate announcing the news on a show like The Daily Rip, the hosts of which are far too concerned with keeping things light, doesn’t exactly help matters. A big part of the reason no one takes Randall and Kate’s message regarding the arrival of an Earth-ending comet seriously is because they don’t really know how to react to it. Don’t Look Up, however, veers into more realistic territory when it comes to its portrayal. When it comes to doom and destruction, most disaster movie characters tend to take a global-scale threat with the seriousness it deserves. The dissemination of facts, information, and the government and corporate roles in it all parallel McKay’s story as well. In addition to climate change, Don’t Look Up also serves as a metaphor for the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed millions of people worldwide. McKay posits the rich and powerful are the root of the problem. Their occupation with other things takes away from the focus on diverting the worst effects of climate change - or, in the film’s case, the comet - when they have the power to change things through policies and swift action. Capitalism takes precedence over everything else, with social media and government officials fueling the system. ![]() News of their breakup and subsequent engagement overshadow the message Randall and Kate are trying to send. In Don’t Look Up, so many are invested in and react to Riley Bina and DJ Chello’s tumultuous relationship. Social media also pulls people’s attention away from getting pivotal information. However, they’re too wrapped up in other distractions like gaining political power, staving off scandals that affect their public image, making deals with corporate leaders for financial gain, and so much more. Throughout the film, McKay reveals the reasons why government leaders could do something to lessen the impact of climate change on the world, including reduced carbon emissions. The comet in Don’t Look Up - a natural property of the galaxy and one that is set to affect the world if no one tries to do anything about it - is a metaphor for climate change. ![]()
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