FILM REVIEW: GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE (15) ESP RATING: 4/5
- ESP Online
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A chaotic, high-concept sci-fi that feels strangely familiar...
There’s something immediately intriguing about Have Fun, Good Luck, Don’t Die, the latest from Gore Verbinski, the lauded filmmaker behind The Ring and the original Pirates of the Caribbeam Trilogy.
His knack for blending big ideas with off-beat tone is very much on display here, resulting in a film that feels both ambitious and gleefully unhinged.
The story follows a man from the future, played by Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), who storms into a Los Angeles diner and holds the patrons hostage. Not out of malice, but because he needs their help to stop rogue Artificial Intelligence from bringing about the apocalypse. From that wonderfully odd setup, the film unfolds into a darkly comic sci-fi that doubles as a meta-commentary on technology and modern society.
Structurally, it plays out through a series of interwoven mini-stories, each focusing on different characters caught up in the chaos before gradually revealing how their lives connect. It’s a structure that could easily feel messy, but it’s handled with confidence, giving each thread just enough space before everything converges.
I had such a great time watching this. There’s a real sense of discovery as it unfolds, and I found myself constantly trying to guess where it was heading – not always successfully –which is half the fun.
But I must admit, it did feel a little like déjà vu at times as a couple of the mini-stories feel very reminiscent of acclaimed TV series Black Mirror – with at least two concepts that fans will likely recognise fairly quickly. It’s worth noting, though, that this didn’t actually diminish my enjoyment. I liked how the film ultimately puts its own spin on these ideas, even if it occasionally feels a little close to the nose.
At the centre of it all is Oscar-winner Rockwell – one of my favourite actors – and he’s perfectly cast. He brings that wonderfully eccentric charm we’ve seen in Jojo Rabbit and more. Balancing humour, vulnerability, and unpredictability in a way that keeps you completely engaged. The supporting cast also gives it their all, each storyline feeling purposeful and fully realised.
Tone-wise, I’d say it’s about 15 per cent horror and 85 per cent sci-fi. There are a few surprisingly graphic moments, but the heart of the film lies firmly in its speculative ideas. If you enjoy that kind of sci-fi malarkey – particularly Black Mirror or the dystopian edge of Terminator – this will be right up your street.
I do worry this might slip under the radar. When I’ve mentioned it to people, the usual response has been, ‘What’s that? Never heard of it’. Which would be a shame, because it’s absolutely worthy of your time.
So see it while you can before it dies at the cinema – because you’ll have fun.
ESP Rating: 4/5
Mike Clarke
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz, Michael Pena, Haley Lu Richardson, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor & Juno Temple
Running Time: 2 Hrs 14 Mins
Director: Gore Verbinski
Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough
For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk
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