The value of human imagination, that spark of creativity AI can only mimic, is being put to the ultimate test in Gore Verbinski’s latest cinematic offering, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die.” While the film might be described as ideologically muddled and structurally a bit of a jumble, with a heavy nod to dystopian classics like “Terminator” and “Edge of Tomorrow,” it possesses a wonderfully personal, cranky, and defiant spirit. It’s akin to an indignant hedgehog repeatedly attempting to butt your shin – irritating, perhaps, but undeniably memorable.
One particularly standout moment features a creature that’s less feline, more… something adjacent. Its design is so endearingly silly and aggressively uncool that it elicits a genuine warmth of affection. In an era where filmmaking is often hyper-conscious and calculated, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” feels like a refreshing throwback. It harks back to a time when mainstream artists felt empowered to throw a few bold ideas at the wall and trust that some would stick.
The narrative kicks off with Sam Rockwell, portraying an enigmatic time traveller clad in a rather utilitarian plastic raincoat. He materialises in a diner, ready to deliver a stern lecture to its unsuspecting patrons. His thesis? Their rampant social media consumption has systematically eroded their dignity. He paints a grim future where half the population perishes, while the other half remains engrossed in doomscrolling, oblivious to their impending demise. This, he reveals, is his 118th attempt to alter this bleak trajectory, contingent on finding the right individuals to join his urgent, righteous crusade.
From this stark warning, the film pivots to introduce a cast of recognisable faces. We meet Janet and Mark, portrayed by Zazie Beetz and Michael Peña respectively, a married couple who are, perhaps predictably, teachers. Juno Temple appears as Susan, a mother grappling with profound grief. Asim Chaudhry injects a dose of everyday reality as Scott, an Uber driver, while Haley Lu Richardson plays Ingrid, a character whose very existence is a rebellion against the digital age, born with a severe allergy to all electronic devices and Wi-Fi signals.
Gore Verbinski is a director primarily known for his blockbuster successes, most notably the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy, and a notable misfire with “The Lone Ranger” in 2013. However, his filmography reveals a depth that extends beyond franchise management and studio-mandated competence. There’s a darker, more idiosyncratic current running through his work, a streak evident in his decision to open the third “Pirates” film with a brutal mass execution sequence that concluded with the death of a child. More recently, his 2016 film, “A Cure for Wellness,” was a thrillingly perplexing Gothic fever dream, capably headlined by Mia Goth.
“It’s all your fault, you’re equally complicit,” the time traveller bellows, his delivery reminiscent of an impassioned online commenter. Unfortunately, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” largely mirrors his character’s focus, dwelling on the symptoms of societal decay rather than its root causes. The script, penned by Matthew Robinson, doesn’t quite manage to pinpoint the corporations orchestrating this digital dystopia. While it attempts to flesh out backstories for some characters – notably omitting Scott, the Uber driver – we do witness Mark and Janet fighting their way through a horde of zombie-like teenagers, their faces eerily illuminated by the glow of their phone screens.
Despite these narrative shortcomings, there’s a palpable, genuine venom in Verbinski’s directorial approach. These individual vignettes arguably resonate more powerfully than a typical “Black Mirror” episode, primarily because the film isn’t preoccupied with showcasing its own cleverness. Instead, it feels like a cathartic release of the filmmaker’s pent-up frustrations. The characters often speak with an unnervingly chipper, Stepford Wives-esque cadence. Police officers casually gun down hostage victims without a second thought. In one particularly chilling scenario, a company profits from cloning the child victims of school shootings, offering a discounted version that comes with advertisements. This particular plot point is so bleak and morally bankrupt that it achieves a genuine level of provocation, a feat few modern satires dare to attempt.
This uncompromising bleakness might understandably alienate some viewers, especially when juxtaposed with Rockwell’s signature, almost effervescent charm. However, as “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” descends further into its own peculiar brand of weirdness, it paradoxically strengthens its own central argument. The time traveller’s ominous warning echoes throughout: “AI is going to try to give you everything you ever wanted… but in the end, it’s all a lie.” You could easily label this film as messy, but at its core, it possesses an undeniable honesty.
Film Details:
- Director: Gore Verbinski
- Starring: Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, Juno Temple
- Classification: 15
- Runtime: 134 minutes
- Release Date: In cinemas from 20 February
