“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” Delivers Sharp AI Satire, Premieres at Sundance
Park City, UT – Debuting at the 2024 Sundance Film festival, director Theo Court’s “Good Luck, Have fun, Don’t Die” offers a darkly comedic and unsettling vision of a near-future grappling with artificial intelligence. The film,starring Stephen Peña,Beetz,and Richardson,avoids simplistic “end is nigh” tropes,instead presenting a nuanced exploration of societal dependence on technology and the anxieties surrounding AI’s promises of perfection.
The narrative follows educators Peña and Beetz as they attempt too shield their students from constant screentime, resorting to unconventional methods like using “Mars Attacks!”-style ”guns” to disable devices. meanwhile, character Temple descends into disillusionment, encountering a disturbing Apple Store-esque facility offering “help” to parents of school shooting victims – a pointed satire of corporate responses to tragedy. Richardson’s character embodies a visceral aversion to technology, experiencing physical reactions to its presence.
Critics note the film’s success lies in its “delightfully bizarre” approach to complex themes, delivering easily digestible commentary on the false promises inherent in AI-driven systems built on “shitty prompts.” The climax features a visually striking confrontation with AI-generated enemies, highlighting the potential for technology to spiral out of control. Despite its dystopian elements, the film ultimately conveys an empathetic message, urging viewers to strive for a better future while acknowledging the pervasive anxieties of the present.
