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Netflix new ‘asteroid to hit Earth’ offering misses the point
PETE STEVENSON compares Don’t Look Up, the most recent offering by the network, to Armageddon classics and finds it wanting on several counts
(L to R) Meryl Streep as US president Orlean, Lonnie Farmer as Old Aide, Jennifer Lawrence as Kate Dibiasky, Leonardo DiCaprio as Randall Mindy, Rob Morgan as Dr Oglethorpe [IMDb]

DON’T LOOK UP directed by Adam McKay is a disappointing science fiction film with a powerful message, presented as an analogy of the dangers of climate change.

An asteroid is heading for Earth that, on contact, will kill us all. Two scientists played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence struggle to convince the US president (a female version of Donald Trump) to act — well trodden Hollywood territory (Deep Impact, Armageddon, etc).

The urgency of the situation is initially ignored and the scientists are treated with contempt. Eventually the president agrees to take action because she sees it as electorally advantageous, and Nasa launches a rocket to zap it in space before it arrives.

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