Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2025) Film Review: Wacky dark comedy with a timely sci-fi twist
- reeltalkin'
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
A man from the future arrives at a Los Angeles diner to recruit a precise number of disgruntled patrons to join him on a one-night quest to save the world from a rogue artificial intelligence.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2025) is a sci-fi/comedy action-adventure directed by Gore Verbinski, one of America's most versatile directors.
He is most well known for penning the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, as well as the psychological body horror A Cure for Wellness (2016) and Rango (2011).
The screenplay was written by Matthew Robinson (Love and Monsters, 2020) and the film stars Sam Rockwell as the elusive 'Man from the Future', as well as Haley Lu Richardson, Juno Temple and other significant supporting roles.
Despite an admittedly overstuffed plot weighed down by a tad too much baggage, the movie offers spectators an exceptionally fun time at the cinema, whilst providing interesting food for thought with its increasingly relevant commentary on the rise of AI.
Verbinski exhibits energetic, engaging direction throughout, managing to deliver an all-around infectiously lively, wild ride with its time travel shenanigans and natural flair for comedy with a pitch-black edge.
The opening sequence, which spends a long portion in the diner location, is filmed with dynamic, seamless camera movements to keep things feeling fresh and upbeat as Rothwell confidently asserts himself in the vast space of confused onlookers, warning of an apocalyptic future where artificial intelligence has taken over the world.
Screenwriter Robinson opts for a flashback-heavy narrative structure, which is paced well and offers fascinating character backstories for each of the 'hostages'. These segments, whilst not the most unique or original, exude a creepy dystopian vibe reminiscent of the best Black Mirror episodes and do a great job at building a serious set of stakes if this group of unlikely heroes do not succeed in their mission.
The script is generally solid with plenty of genuinely effective comedic elements laced throughout, which predominantly arise from the absurdity of situations where characters are simply reacting to their crazy surroundings, whilst also having an often hysterical darkness as the film pokes fun at humanity's flaws and itself.
The movie benefits strongly from its highly unpredictable nature, offering something familiar to viewers with its sci-fi concepts, whilst fully throwing itself into chaotic insanity, delivering on well-realised and executed plot twists which successfully keep viewers guessing and theorising.
The movie clocks in at a hefty run time of just under two and a half hours; however, it manages to maintain a slick pacing throughout, even though the flashback sequences are arguably more tantalising than the actual present-day circumstances.
The creators do attempt to cram a lot into the film, which does raise the question of whether this story might have thrived better as a miniseries.
With a screenplay like this, stuffed full of imaginative imagery, colourful action--packed hygincs and plenty of disturbing dystopian undertones, many of these provocative ideas and themes are not given enough screen time to thoroughly explore.
As previously alluded to, concepts such as human cloning, virtual realities and alternate timelines are plucked straight out of other high-concept science fiction TV shows and movies, which can result in a distinct lack of subtlety and re-treading of all too familiar ground.
Although the overly pessimistic viewpoint the movie takes in its exploration of the potentially damaging effects of AI is a significantly trendy topic in today's conversations, the film often creates quite unsettling comparisons to our own reality.
Despite the overall lighthearted, goofy tone, the movie encourages serious reflection on its stance on rapidly evolving technological advances.
The film is majorly propped up by the insane charisma levels and infectious charm of the ever-delightful Sam Rockwell. With an already impressive portfolio of performances behind him, this completely unhinged, yet deeply human role is another killer to add to the list.
From the moment he bursts onto the screen in his mangled outfit and dishevelled appearance, sporting a larger-than-life personality to boot, he instantly commands our attention and holds it for the following two hours with his natural comedic timing and ability to lead, whilst demonstrating a believable vulnerability.
The rest of the supporting cast are also strong and distinguishable, offering a solid selection of differing personalities and suitable emotional involvement with each of their respective story arcs.
Although the film is, at times, a bit too self-indulgent and on the nose with its thematic messaging, and not all the attempts at humour land, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die is undeniably entertaining and the perfect popcorn flick to entice any casual cinemafan.
The narrative can be rocky, and the less said about some of the CGI, the better, but it is packed full of energy and endless bouts of charm!
Check out the trailer for Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2025) below, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments!
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