Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die Review
By Kevin Hoskinson
Entertainment Editor Pastrami Nation
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is more than just a film; it’s a plea to the future. It’s an unhinged thrill ride that is full of heart and laughs, with a couple of moments that will leave you speechless. At the helm is Gore Verbinski, who hasn’t made a film in over ten years. If his name doesn’t sound familiar, that’s ok, because you know his films. He directed the original Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy and the American remake of The Ring. He is a filmmaker who does things his own way, and this film is a perfect example of that.
The film takes place in the not-too-distant future when a mysterious man shows up in Norm’s Diner in Downtown Los Angeles. Portrayed by Sam Rockwell, he claims that a 9-year-old boy is creating God in his bedroom across town, which will bring on the end of the world. Making the trip countless times and failing, he knows the restaurant holds the perfect combination of people that are going to help him stop the apocalypse, and he just needs to figure out exactly what that combo is. What follows is a zany adventure that will stick with you long after you’ve seen the film.
Written by Matthew Robinson, this is a film that feels a bit “get off my lawn!” but in the best way possible. In the decade since Verbinski last made a movie, so much has changed in technology and society. This combination of writer and director feels like a match made in cinema heaven. Both of them have very strong feelings about AI, and that comes through in this story and the characters. When they talk about the boy creating God, it’s an artificial intelligence that will take us all out. They have both been watching the world change very closely, nailing everything from the way we consume media to how dumbed-down technology has made us all, even pointing out how corporations exploit tragedy and those involved.
There is so much to discuss with Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die that it feels impossible to say it all in a single review. Everything works about it, and there aren’t any negatives to speak of. It’s a timely and relevant story, one that will have you yearning for a simpler time and praying for future generations. It tackles subjects I was not expecting in darkly humorous ways, feeling like an emotional gut punch and a call to action. The cast is phenomenal with Sam Rock, Haley Lu Richardson, and Juno Temple stealing the show. It’s a good time, and you need to watch it ASAP.
Rating: 4.5 Pastrami Nations out of 5.
