Last Updated on November 25, 2024 by
Y2K is a 2024 Comedy, and Horror Sci-Fi Movie Directed by Kyle Mooney and written by Kyle Mooney and Evan Winter. The film stars Brian Cox, Luke Pasqualino, and Miranda Otto with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes, theatre released on December 6, 2024.
One of the significant events during the 1990s that is still a commonly referenced topic is the “Y2K bug”. At that time, people panicked and feared that as soon as the year changed to 2000, computers would freeze up or go haywire. This was because many computers were not programmed to accept the year 2000 in their operations. This created a lot of concern that this would lead to a crisis in the technology sector across various countries.
The masses reacted chaotically by rushing to buy food water and other necessities, withdrawing large amounts of cash, and overthinking about DARPA and machines taking over the world. Of course, none of that happened. But the new A24 movie Y2K imagines a fun twist: what if it did happen? Written and directed by Kyle Mooney (SNL, Brigsby Bear), Y2K dives into the absurd world of teen comedy with an all-1990s aesthetic. It’s outrageous and funny but at times overly simplistic, coming across as desperate for ’90s nostalgia in a lot of the bits.
The main characters are two high school outsiders, Eli (Jaden Martell, It, Defending Jacob) and Danny (Julian Dennison, Deadpool 2, Hunt for the Wilderpeople). It’s new year’s eve and they are together deciding how they will pass the night of 31st December 1999. Eli is a shy nerd, and he has fallen in love with a girl from school, Laura (played by Rachel Zegler from West Side Story).
For his part, Danny wants to do what pleases him; Danny is a hedonist, a character who looks forward to feeling and experiencing the pleasures of life. They spend most of their time at a video rental store, which is kind of like Netflix but physical, owned by their degenerate friend Garrett, portrayed by Kyle Mooney. But this time, they are invited to a huge house party where Soccer Chris, a popular jock who loves soccer as his tag suggests, is the host.
The movie initially gives off a vibe of Superbad and encompasses elements of Kyle Mooney’s eccentric brand of comedy. Jaeden Martell is especially good at portraying an unpredictable, socially inept nerd; Julian Dennison is very enthusiastic and lovable. Perhaps one of the funniest scenes worth mentioning is where Danny uses a karaoke session to get people dancing and singing to ‘Thong Song’ by Sisqó. It’s pure comedy gold.
Much of the pop culture references which add a representation of the 1990s are highlighted in the film. A very funny scene is an argument between Farkas, an often obnoxious teenager interpreted by Eduardo Franco from Stranger Things, and Asha, a rather crude young lady played by Lachlan Watson, about Limp Bizkit better than hip-hop artists such as Fred Durst. The soundtrack includes many popular songs of the moment, such as ‘Break Stuff’ by Limp Bizkit, ‘Tubthumping’ by Chumbawamba, and ‘Praise You’ by Fatboy Slim. At the end of it, one thing that cannot go unnoticed is that the filmmakers adore the ’90s and are not just using it for laughs.
But then the clock strikes midnight, and the fun starts. A computer virus called Y2K arrives, and pretty much any consumer hardware with a CPU becomes sentient and tries to murder individuals. This is where the movie gets bonkers in the most entertaining way possible. The CD player beheads a man with a flying disc, and other machines murderguen kill people in various ways.
The tonal change from a teen party comedy to post-apocalyptic madness is quite jarring but sure makes for an effective change and feels like something out of This Is the End or an Edgar Wright film (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Shaun of the Dead). Fun fact: The cinematographer, Bill Pope, who did Scott Pilgrim and The Matrix, makes the fight look good, like I said before.
After the core group of survivors is set, the pace of the story slows down a little. Sadly, this is where the humor begins to rely solely on referencing the ’90s.
Laura, the girl Eli has a crush on, is underwritten and feels like a cliché: the tomboy who harbors geeky interests in her heart of hearts. Her scenes such as the one with her poisonous ex-boyfriend Jonas portrayed by Mason Gooding from Scream VI do not contribute much to the central plot. Luckily, Ash and CJ (the middle-aged man from Funny Pages) abstain the middle part from being monotonous as the two characters become friends despite coming from two different worlds.
Another source of comic relief that gets a lot of laughs here is Kyle Mooney as Garrett, the stoner buddy. His approach to the game is very casual and his personality has quite an offbeat sense of humor. In one scene, he simply nonchalantly asks a sentient machine, “Yo computer, is it okay if I have never met my father?” It is funny and random which fits perfectly in the movie and it’s yet another great example of how Mooney’s humor is used in the movie.
However, the last scenes of Y2K are where things get back to the action again. A popular actor from 1998/99 comes in a special appearance to feature as one of the survivors assisting the young people in the survival of the dangerous world. This twist would be appreciated by those who enjoy the music of that time.
The ending is effectively a teen vs. machines climax lifted from decades of sci-fi movies and television shows that may not necessarily be great for the young audience but is pretty entertaining for older viewers. There is more to do from Rachel Zegler in such scenes, and her character attempting to hack into the evil AI feels like a comedy in the tradition of Hackers. The final monster, a mixture of bad CGI and practical effects, is campy in the best possible sense, reminiscent of fifties sci-fi movies.
While it falters a little bit in its middle section, Y2K is a solid directorial debut for Kyle Mooney. It combines awkward comedy with nostalgia for the 1990s while relying on a resourceful team of relatively unknown actors. If you are into teen comedies or into watching some animated adventures, then this movie is worth watching. Finally, to any millennial or anyone interested in 90s pop culture, Y2K is going to be a fun and hilarious watch. A24 once again shows that it can handle any kind of film, and this crazy high school comedy is a perfect example.
Y2K 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Y2K is Rated R by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for bloody violence, strong sexual content/nudity, pervasive language, and teen drug and alcohol use.
Y2K PLOT FULL SUMMARY and parents’ guide will be updated closer to the release date (December 6, 2024.), so check back.
