Death to 2020 is a satirical Netflix original movie that takes a mocking look at the eventful year of 2020. Directed by the creators of the award-winning series Black Mirror, this mockumentary is a witty, sarcastic, and often funny commentary on the year that is widely considered as one of the worst in recent memory. The film brings together an all-star cast of A-list actors and comedians, including Samuel L. Jackson, Hugh Grant, and Lisa Kudrow, who play fictitious characters reflecting different aspects of 2020. The movie also features other notable figures such as Laurence Fishburne, Joe Keery, and Kumail Nanjiani, who appear in various roles, as well as YouTuber Lily Singh, who plays a TV reporter.
The movie aims to put the catastrophic events of 2020 in perspective, highlighting the absurdity and irony of the year that saw a global pandemic, social upheavals, and political chaos. It cleverly injects humor into some otherwise dire situations, such as the toilet paper shortage and the infamous Zoom meetings that we've all had to endure.
The movie is presented as a documentary-style film, with each actor portraying an archetypal character from the year. Samuel L. Jackson plays a narrator who guides the audience through the year's events while giving hilarious commentary on the events. He's joined by Hugh Grant, who plays a historian reflecting on the past, and Lisa Kudrow playing a conservative politician from a fictional right-wing political party. Kudrow's character comes across as a parody of Sarah Palin and speaks with a Southern accent.
The mockumentary introduces several other equally amusing characters, such as Gemma Nerrick and Tennyson Foss, two over-enthusiastic tech experts who fumble through their on-camera appearances as they attempt to explain how the year's events were held aloft by technology. Another memorable character is Kathy Flowers, a crusty British lady who is self-isolating in her home and fears the end of the world is nigh.
The film uses a variety of techniques to tell its story. There are news clips, fake adverts, and infomercials sprinkled throughout the movie that reinforce the sense of satire. The mockumentary also uses archive footage of real news stories, including scenes and images from the U.S. presidential campaign and protests against police brutality. These clips are woven into the mockumentary's storyline to show the genuine impact of these events on people's lives.
The writing is brilliantly sharp throughout the movie, with the jokes coming thick and fast. The script is peppered with hilarious one-liners, such as the "unprecedented times" phrase that had become synonymous with 2020. Some parts of the movie are touching, and others are downright cynical, but overall, the film captures the essence of the year perfectly.
Death to 2020 is an entertaining, often amusing take on the events of 2020. The casting is excellent, and the acting is spot on, making it a delightful way to end a year that was anything but delightful for most. It does its job of making light of a dark year while also providing a sense of catharsis. The movie puts the year's events in perspective while also adding some levity to the situation. While it may not be everyone's cup of tea, Death to 2020 is one of the better movies to come out of the pandemic year.
Death to 2020 is a 2020 comedy.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.
