Y2K review

Y2K: 

CHAOTIC ROBOT APOCALYPSE MOVIE FEELS LIKE SOMETHING FROM THE 90S AND 2000S; AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: ** out of 4

A24

Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, and Julian Dennison in Y2K

 

            The machines have taken over in Y2K, the new disaster horror-comedy film from A24 and the directorial debut of Kyle Mooney (Saturday Night Live, Brigsby Bear, Saturday Morning All Star Hits!). Mooney is probably better known for his acting roles in both film and television such as being the voice of Michelangelo in Batman VS Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Murphy Brown Fünke in Arrested Development as well as being the co-creator of the series, Saturday Morning All Star Hits!. Now, he makes his first feature film directing effort produced by Jonah Hill (Superbad, 21/22 Jump Street, This is the End) and Christopher Storer (Eighth Grade, Ramy, The Bear) with a movie about a fictionalized version of the Year 2000 problem. 

            I thought the movie looked fun when I saw the trailer in front of Heretic, I’m a sucker for films with completely absurd premises that go for broke and have a lot of dark humor so, this seemed right up my alley. I can definitely say that there are elements of absurdity and dark comedy to be had which are the best parts of the film, the rest of the time however, it’s an obnoxious time capsule of the 90s. 

            The film is set in 1999 on New Year’s Eve and follows two social outcast friends, Eli (Jaeden Martell-St. Vincent, Midnight Special, It: Chapters 1 and 2) and Danny (Julian Dennison-Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Deadpool 2, Godzilla VS Kong) crashing a high school party in hopes to get laid especially Eli because his crush, Laura (Rachel Zegler-West Side Story (2021), The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Snow White (2025)) is in attendance. But when the Y2K computer bug makes all technology come to life and turn against humanity, it turns into a fight for their lives and the safety of the human race…oh, and Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit makes an appearance. 

             The film also stars Daniel Zolghadri (Eighth Grade, Low Tide, Funny Pages) as CJ, Lachlan Watson (Nashville,Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Chucky) as Ash, Eduardo Franco (Stranger Things, Booksmart, Gabby’s Dollhouse) as Farkas, Mooney himself as Garrett, Mason Gooding (Ballers, Love, Victor, Scream 5 and 6) as Jonas, Miles Robbins (Blockers, Halloween (2018), Daniel Isn’t Real) as Nugz, Alicia Silverstone (Clueless, Batman & Robin, The Killing of a Scared Deer) as Robin, and Tim Heidecker (Bridesmaids, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Us) as Howard. 

            Overall, Y2K has some fun moments and the effects on the robots made out of appliances and technology are quite impressive. Unfortunately, the film is bogged down by characters that range from unlikable to just downright annoying and cringe-worthy humor and references to the time it takes place in. 

            I’ll admit, part of me enjoyed the references to things like the Nintendo 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time because I remembered them from my youth, but a lot of them felt extremely forced and not all that funny or clever. Also, missed opportunity to have a killer N64 in the movie, but the VCR that shot a bootleg tape of Varsity Bluesat a woman’s head and knocked her out got a chuckle. 

            However, when you have Rachel Zegler quoting the Will Smith “I make this look good!” line from Men in Black for literally no reason or Jaeden Martell and Julian Dennison are watching Arnold Schwarzenegger in Junior just because, it feels like the writers were too focused on cramming in as many 90s things as possible to the point where it just feels like really bad nostalgia-bating, I will say Limp Bizkit fit much better in this than when Jim Carrey referenced them in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. 

            It is also a movie that makes absolutely no sense, this is a film where a Tamagotchi somehow latches itself onto a drill and drills a hole in someone’s head so it’s best not to question any logic. Big surprise, the scenes where the machines are killing people are the best parts of the movie and they’re done in very creative and ridiculous ways like a blender grinding a man’s testicles and the already mentioned VCR and Tamagotchi, those moments are entertaining. 

            But why do creative deaths and robot designs matter when most of your characters are unlikable pricks despite being portrayed by some talented young actors. I get that it revolves around high school students so sophistication isn’t exactly one of their strong suits, but these characters are constantly making wise-ass remarks to each other, insults, references private areas (Because it’s funny, Huhuhuh!), and laughing and joking after witnessing a murder. 

            A24’s own, Bodies Bodies Bodies did something similar with its characters by having a bunch of snooty, privileged young people unintentionally axe each other off because of misunderstandings that occur. But that was done intentional as a social satire on Gen Z and class so, when you’re actually supposed to care about these obnoxious douchebags in a robot apocalypse, it doesn’t feel warranted and makes the stock characters from Freddy VS Jason look like Scorsese characters by comparison. 

            Despite some moments of enjoyment, Y2K is a misguided directorial debut for Kyle Mooney and so far, the worst film I’ve seen that has the A24 name on it. It’s a shame because I saw aspects of a fun movie here, but on top of the annoying stock characters and forced 90s references, it just makes you wish you were watching The Mitchells VS the Machines instead which is a way better movie about a robot apocalypse that’s actually smart and funny and takes full advantage of its premise. 

I’d suggest deleting this virus of a film sooner rather than later.