This sensational film by Adam McKay, the creator of the exposé The Big Short, feels as if the Houser brothers decided to make a movie instead of the next installment of GTA. We are presented with a very thick metaphor for the attitude of world leaders and the majority of people toward global problems: environmental pollution and the accompanying climate changes.

But unlike Greta Thunberg screaming hysterically from the podium, McKay exposes everyone and everything in a satirical manner, turning the events into a genuine farce and a parade of idiocy, topped off with a fireworks display (literally). Why? The answer is provided in the film’s epigraph.

"I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather, not screaming in terror like his passengers." – Jack Handey, American humorist.

And yet Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), the voice of reason in the film who loses her temper on a late-night show screaming "We're all going to die!", meets the same fate as Thunberg: memes, mockery, and accusations of mental instability. Moreover, McKay makes no distinction regarding who he portrays as idiots: whether it's ordinary teenagers, popular show hosts with three advanced degrees, or top-level politicians. Ultimately, they are all more concerned with sex scandals: who cheated on whom or who sent nudes.

For instance, the ex-boyfriend of Lawrence's character achieves fame with an article about sleeping with Dibiasky, while the talk show host gets aroused hearing "We're all going to die" from the lips of Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is dubbed "America's Sexiest Scientist."

The sexualization of society – is a kind of symbol of idiocy, which in the film also proves to be contagious (Leo's character catches it). The only protection is to avoid contact with the "infected" and stay out of the media loop: like Kate, who lacks Randall's security clearance and doesn't know the names of pop stars (the young PhD candidate prefers classic hip-hop, humming Wu-Tang's "Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit" in the opening scene).

In his film, McKay views the world through the eyes of a realist and does not accept any authorities. Just as Elon Musk trolled politicians on Twitter for their idiotic statements, McKay, for example, portrays a general selling free snacks from the White House buffet to exhausted scientists. "That is how he feels his power," Kate concludes after long reflection on the subject.

Thus, power according to McKay – is the ability to do idiotic things and force people to follow along or endure them: like the bag FBI agents throw over the heads of those arrested without any necessity (on orders from the President's advisor), or the call not to look up at the sky, where a massive meteorite hurtling towards Earth is clearly visible. That is why Kate, upon listening to yet another government conspiracy theory, concludes: "They aren't even smart enough to be as evil as you think."

Warning: Spoilers!

Despite the heavy-handed metaphors, McKay managed to create a sufficiently witty and by no means stupid movie. And it is not surprising at all that many did not like it, and it even enraged some. But if you relax and pay attention to the details, the film offers immense pleasure (the duo of Jonah Hill and Meryl Streep alone is worth it), despite the bleak – yet logical – finale. As the saying goes, if you’re going to die, do it with music.

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