Goodbye World: Movie Review

"GoodbyeWorld" is a movie about affluent, self-absorbed 30 something year olds acting like teenagers. If you were ever wondering how the people from 90210 and Dawson's Creek would act like in a post-apocalyptic/dystopian world, first of all, what’s the matter with you? Are you touched in the head or something? And second they would act exactly how they acted like in these show: obnoxious with tediously complicated love triangles, squares and hexagons. 

Our hero/leader is James (Adrian Grenier), a young, wealthy, tech tycoon who sold his company and is now living off the grid in northern California mountain with his kooky outrageous wife, Lily (Kerry Bishe), and young daughter, Hanna (McKenna Grace). We’re later joined by Lily’s former lover and James’ former business partner Nick (Ben McKenzie) and his new wife, Becky (Caroline Dhavernas), a woman they barely knew and liked while attending college (Stanford). The gang is joined by their ex-con friend Benji (Mark Webber) and his young college girlfriend (Remy Nozik) who informs everyone that the world is ending; there are riots in the streets and the government has lost control because of a coordinated cyber-attack. And last to arrive at douche manor, are suicidal master hacker and token black guy Lev (Kid Cudi) and Laura (Gaby Hoffmann), a disgraced political aid. 

Gang performing and enjoying a talent show.

Now you would imagine these educated tech savvy individuals would be quick to formulate plans to protect their house and resources so they can prepare for any possible scenario, but they don't seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. They’re not worried about rouge soldiers, angry distrustful neighbors and biker gangs running convenience stores, they decide to get high and naked in the outdoor hot tub? Now is that really how a rational individual would behave in a world where there is no law, and man is left to his own devices? Is it really wise for 3 ridiculously attractive women to go skinny-tubbing at a time like this? Would you really care if your college honey is married to your best friend or would you be worried about your safety and possibly secure weapons just in case you’re angry neighbors decide to attack you (spoiler alert: they do and our heroes get their butts kicked). 

The world is ending and these people are having dinner parties and talent shows. Now in a movie like "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" at least there is justification for partying, it was their one last hurrah before the meteor hits the Earth, but in this movie, they’re just having a good time for the sake of a good time, doomsday be damned. They don’t seem to be worried about the potential dangers that may arise from a lawless society. 

Everyone in this movie is pretentious and so deeply unforgivable that I wouldn’t have cared if anything horrible happened to anyone of them, and that includes the adorable little girl. That’s how horrible, self-absorbed and privileged these people are that none of them have a single redeemable quality… And yeah, as horrible as it sounds, that includes the little girl. Now I know I’m exaggerating to emphasize a point, obviously I wouldn’t wish any harm on a little girl, but if anyone is looking for a convincing argument for not having kids, well I think you should watch this movie. Case in point: they find out that Lilly and Lev could be responsible for internet’s collects and their response as a group is “oops”. That’s right, you find out that your friends could be responsible for the end of the world and your response is “Oh, those wacky friends of mine”. 

If the goal of this movie was to hate young upper-class America then I say mission accomplished. Everyone and I mean everyone in this movie is intolerable, and unforgivably shallow. There is nothing good about this movie, it's trying to be a lighthearted comedy/romance/drama/dystopian/political satire, and it fails on all fronts. It’s not a good apocalyptic movie nor is it a compelling romantic drama, it’s just a hodge podge of rejected stories all piled on top of each other hoping to produce a sliver of entertainment, but unfortunately it’s a grotesque homunculus glorifying the 7 deadly sins perfectly (Fullmetal Alchemist Reference).