Fri. December 6, 2024
By Jerry Nunn
The year 1999 was a tumultuous time in history and OMG many felt the world would end at the start of 2000. The concern surrounded computers and the use of two digits for the year, instead of four. Luckily not much happened at the stroke of midnight that year and life continued on.
Y2K co-writers Kyle Mooney and Evan Winter have a ball with the concept of what might have been and run with it. Their story begins with the familiar sounds of a dial-up Internet connection accompanied by an AOL announcement of “You've got mail!”
Bosom buddies Eli (Jaeden Martell) and Danny (Julian Dennison) are determined to attend a high school party on New Year's Eve before all hell breaks loose. In this fantasy, the machines rise up and begin attacking the humans in a battle against technology until the bitter end.
The creators amp up the cartoon violence and campy deaths to bolster the humor in a film that doesn't take itself seriously. Acronyms were growing more popular at the time and this NYE was special. Movies were watched on VHS tapes and music was pivotal to one's existence sometimes combined on a mix CD. Spinning on the disc player of Y2K is a soundtrack containing such memorable hits as “Praise You” “I'll Be” and “Tubthumping.”
Smoking pot was radical at the time and baggy fashion was sewn together by drunks. This flick was pieced together by pulling from other films as inspiration such as Short Circuit, Lawnmower Man and Hackers.
Mooney as the director, not only steals every scene he cameos in as Garrett, but has cooked up a cast that must have eaten into the budget. Alicia Silverstone and Tim Heidecker barely get any screen time. Musicians Fred Durst and Kid LAROI seem to relish their roles but also come with a hefty paycheck appearance fee.
The younger players weren't born until after the time period to experience it firsthand, Martell (2003), Dennison (2002) and Rachel Zegler (2001). This is where Y2K stumbles and feels disingenuous. Things smooth out thanks to queer sensibilities from Lachlan Watson who has an onscreen moment of questioning their identity without modern vocabulary.
While there are still a few bugs to work out, Y2K might make your spirits bright against the heavy cinematic fare competing for trophies during award season. Cheers to the cast and crew who are all that and a bag of chips!
TGIF on December 6 and Y2K celebrates an early new year at theaters everywhere. XOXO
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