Warning: The following contains spoilers for Don't Look Up.
Adam McKay's Vice) in that it points an accusatory finger at certain of the political spectrum. His newest is, unfortunately, a bit on the nose at times, but it does have points to make.
On the positive side of the film is the expansive cast, almost all of whom are playing well-fleshed-out characters. This is particularly true of Jennifer Lawrence's Kate Dibiaski and Leonardo DiCaprio's Dr. Randall Mindy. However, it's not just those two characters who get to speak some very memorable lines.
Dr. Mindy Analyzing The Comet's Trajectory
"An Extinction Level Event."
This Earth-destroying comet Netflix movie gets to the details very early on. Kate Dibiasky is the first individual to discover the comet (hence it being named after her) but Dr. Randall Mindy was the first to accurately analyze its trajectory.
The two of them are pushed from department to department until they're finally transferred to Dr. Teddy Oglethorpe (Rob Morgan). Oglethorpe asks how big the comet is, to which Mindy replies about 5 to 10 km. Oglethorpe knows what it is, but Mindy confirms its status by declaring it an "Extinction-level event."
Kate Discovering The Truth About The General's Snacks
"The Snacks Are Free."
While Dr. Randall Mindy, Kate Dibiasky, and Dr. Teddy Oglethorpe are waiting to speak with President Orlean, General Themes brings them packages of Ritz Bitz and bottles of water.
He claims that each set of snacks and water costs ten dollars. Oglethorpe pays up while Mindy pays for both himself and Dibiasky. But Dibiasky then goes to the kitchen to get another bottle of water. She asks a lone woman sitting at a table who she needs to pay for it. The woman replies that it's The White House, it's free. Dibiasky returns to her cohorts and tells them of how the general swindled them: "The snacks are free." It all goes to show just how corrupt and ineffective this White House istration is (was). It's also a scene that cements Dibiasky as one of Lawrence's best roles.
Kate Having A Meltdown On TV
"We're Trying To Tell You That The Entire Planet Is About To Be Destroyed!"
After trying and failing to appeal to President Orlean's sense of intelligence, Dr. Randall Mindy and Kate Dibiasky go on a morning television program titled The Daily Rip.
The hosts, Jack Bremmer (Tyler Perry) and Brie Evantee (Cate Blanchett) are ive, even outright jovial while the two professionals relay the facts about the ELE. They don't take it seriously, the same as the boneheaded president or about half of the population who believe problems are solved via being ignored.
Dr. Mindy Trying To Console Kate
"I Think That's Photoshopped, Kate."
His big arc as Dr. Mindy in Don't Look Up is the process of coming to one's senses and it encomes both sensitivity and self-centeredness. He becomes deluded by power and fame, even going so far as to begin an extramarital fling with Evantee. But he's overall a sweet guy, and he has a mentor-mentee bond with Dibiasky. When the internet trolls start eviscerating her with doctored photos, he tries to console her with the goofily obvious line "I think that's photoshopped, Kate."
Benedict Drask Launching Into A Tirade
"You Ever See Inside A Man's Torso?!"
The pseudo-hero briefly tasked with guiding rockets up to comet Dibiaski, Benedict Drask is of "a different generation." This is the excuse the istration cheekily uses with one another when Drask spouts an endless tirade of racially-charged statements like they're run-of-the-mill small talk.
However, while all of Drask's lines lack intelligence or heart, one of them contains loads of humor. When he's introduced to the audience, he's shown physically educating them on the White House lawn. His language is atrocious, and he ends the sexist insult parade with the question "You ever see inside a man's torso?!" It's certainly one of the more bizarre questions a White House official has asked a child, and it's one of the film's funnier moments.
Kate Making Movie References
"Isn't That From Saving Private Ryan?"
"If I get snuffed, that you all earn the extra living my sacrifice gives you." This is the line uttered by Drask, the unqualified man President Orlean puts in charge of flying up and dealing with the crisis.
The scene cuts between Orlean explaining who he is and Drask standing on a stage, addressing the nation. Drask then spouts a clearly pre-written line about sacrifice. Jason Orlean (Jonah Hill) then smugly takes credit for the line. But Kate Dibiasky knows better, and asks "Isn't that from Saving Private Ryan?" The look on the younger Orlean's face clearly suggests that, yes, the line was stolen.
Jason Making Arrangements For Kate
"We'll Lay Out Some Newspaper."
Dibiasky, Dr. Mindy, and Dr. Oglethorpe are in the White House, yet again waiting for a meeting with President Orlean. And, yet again, they're not waiting for a good reason. Also yet again, a member of the istration is extremely rude and unprofessional, disgracing their role in the istration.
This time it's President Orlean's son, Jason, the White House Chief of Staff (who received the job solely due to nepotism, not because of any discernible skill). Whereas the first time they were all charged for the snacks, this time Dibiasky and Dr. Oglethorpe have the snacks thrown at their feet while Dr. Mindy is embraced with open arms and a welcoming attitude (he's been trending). Dibiasky asks "What if we have to go to the bathroom?" to which the younger Orlean replies "We'll lay out some newspaper" and cracks a joke about Febreze.
Dr. Mindy On How Useless Money Is During This Crisis
"What Do These Trillions Of Dollars Matter If We're All Going To Die With The Impact Of This Comet?"
Even if Don't Look Up isn't Adam McKay's best movie, it is his most personal. Of all the points he makes throughout the film's runtime, none is delivered more emphatically than the line: "What do these trillions of dollars matter if we're all going to die with the impact of this comet?"
It comes during the scene where Dr. Mindy listens in terror as President Orlean and Peter Isherwell (a primary donor to her campaign) discuss the opportunity to make money from the comet instead of just destroying it. President Orlean, money-hungry science-denier that she is, ignores logic and embraces a mixture of greed and stupidity.
Peter Isherwell Proposing Another Absurd Idea
"Intergalactic Existence For The Human Race!"
Peter Isherwell, almost certainly the biggest donor to President Orlean's campaign, uses big words and lofty promise when selling his approach of mining the comet. He claims the hurling rock is riddled with precious minerals which are growing scarce on Earth.
Naturally, these minerals are worth a jaw-dropping amount of money. That alone is enough to sell President Orlean, who has to fan herself at the thought of profit. But Isherwell is excited with an ear-to-ear grin. He continues to sell the concept and the benefit of (the super-rich) harvesting the minerals: "Intergalactic existence for the human race!"
