Do you remember where you were when 1999 turned into 2000? The world was buzzing with "Y2K" fears-people worried that computers would reset to 1900 instead of moving forward to 2000, and technology would stop working. Programmers scrambled to avoid a digital disaster, while everyone else stocked up on cash and food, fearing the worst. Thankfully, the panic was for nothing; the new millennium began without a hitch. But what if it hadn't? A24 explores that scenario in their horror-comedy Y2K.
Eli (Jaeden Martell; It) is your typical high school nerd who's infatuated with the pretty, popular girl, Laura (Renee Zegler; West Side Story). Laura has just broken up with her jock boyfriend, and they're all heading to a New Year's Eve party that Eli and his best friend Danny (Julian Dennison; Deadpool 2) decide to crash. At the stroke of midnight, the power goes out-just after Laura kisses her ex-and things start to get weird.
If this setup sounds familiar, it's because it is. Y2K relies heavily on the eighties and nineties high school movie tropes. We've got the nerds, the jocks, the stoners, and the popular kids, all converging for a chaotic house party. But unlike your average John Hughes film, this one doesn't end happily.
The young cast brings solid experience from major projects. Zegler, Martell, and Dennison all do a great job with what they have, especially Martell, who had previously been alongside a seasoned ensemble in Knives Out. Unfortunately, the rest of the ensemble cast is just okay, and Fred Durst's cameo offers some unintentional laughs rather than much-needed gravitas.
Kyle Mooney, co-writer and director, brings his comedic chops from Saturday Night Live to his first feature film. While his comedic timing shines in some gags, the directing feels flat and generic overall.
So, what's good about Y2K? If you're Gen Z, maybe not much. But for Gen X and older Millennials, the nostalgia is real. The 90s pop culture references are fun, the soundtrack will make you sing along, featuring such memorable Gen X songs as "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba, and numerous Limp Bizkit songs, even with a new rendition of "Faith," and there are enough catchphrases to bring a smile to your face.
Sadly, the nostalgic laughs can't fully save Y2K. The plot starts off generic and ends so over-the-top ridiculous that even the best jokes (or Fred Durst) can't redeem it. If you're in your thirties to fifties and want a nostalgic laugh, Y2K might be worth a single viewing. Just don't expect more than a fleeting smile.
Grade: C
