By Kaitlyn Bell
The end of 2020 was a year filled with surprise, loss, and change, but it has made many people hopeful for the new year. Many found different ways to get through the horrific events of the past year, one of those being humor. “Death to 2020,” a Netflix original review of the past year, includes everything from COVID-19 to the presidential election, and presents the year through a humorous perspective. The movie, a basic rundown of the events of 2020, may have been directed to be humorous, but as the issues and events of 2020 are still happening, it has been perceived as “unlaughable” and “unimaginative.”
Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, the creators of “Death to 2020,” attempted to tackle the year's events with this British “mockumentary,” but it may have been too soon. When asked about the documentary, many students had mixed opinions.
“Although the movie wasn’t too bad, I most likely wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Why would you watch a movie about something you just lived through, with most of the jokes being about hardships that you or loved ones most likely faced?” said freshman Nicole Donnelly.
Source by Ari Boldur
In March of 2020, buyers went frantic as shelves became empty due to people stocking up on necessities such as paper towels, preparing for the quarantine ahead of them.
In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Jones stated that “people definitely need relief, but many believe that this documentary is not it and that 2020 deserves more.”
The movie combined footage from real events and commentary from celebrities playing character archetypes that represent 2020. This gives the viewers a glimpse into all of the chaotic moments from last year, some of which many may have forgotten about by now. These characters include Hugh Grant as a history professor, Samuel L. Jackson as a journalist, Lisa Kudrow as a spokesperson, and other celebrities representing Queen Elizabeth II, a tech CEO, a scientist and a soccer mom.
“It was an interesting way to sum up one of the most devastating years in a while. I loved the sarcasm because it was really funny but also thought-provoking. Even the jokes that didn’t force us to laugh pushed us to look back at the past year in a new light,” said senior Gauri Shyamnath.
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