"Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" REVIEW

Published on 2/22/2026 

Written by: Braylon Mitchell 

Directed by: Gore Verbinski 

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Juno Temple, Micheal Pena, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, etc. 

Plot: A "Man From the Future" arrives at a diner in Los Angeles where he must recruit the precise combination of disgruntled patrons to join him on a one-night quest to save the world from the terminal threat of a rogue artificial intelligence.

REVIEW 

I'm glad to report that I was pleasantly surprised by this film. Gore Verbinski  (best known for the first three "Pirates of the Caribbean" films and "Rango") hadn't directed a film in ten years, and over that time I've noticed online a consistent increase in appreciation for him and his work. I've found myself reflecting on my connection to his work and recognizing the effort he puts into all of his films, which made me much more eager to see this film than I would've been if I didn't walk into it with that outside factor. This film tries its hand at a lot- sometimes working very well, sometimes not. As a large scale satire on AI, social media, corperations, school shootings, and how the state of these things in the world effects younger generations- the film's effectiveness in tackling those modern themes comedically either falls into two categories, obnoxiously over the top or ridiculously over the top in a good way. I rolled my eyes at the film's spelled out satire just as much as I was cackling with laughter at it's cleverness, but either way I've got to give it to this film for provoking thought about the way the world is and the directions it's heading towards. There is a lot of fun to be had with this film, especially with the sprinkling of creative ideas that are in play throughout the otherwise expectedness of the narrative. The opening scene in the diner and the (effectively surprising) twist ending in particular are standouts of the film. This film ultimately gets bonus points for its creativity alone. No matter how messy the film gets, it stays creative and I respond to that- especially now more than ever. 

THREE BEST ELEMENTS

• The film's originality. An original concept that blends subgenres, offers social commentary in a wonderfully overblown manner, and leaves an impression based off the swings it takes. 

• Gore Verbinski's direction. Whether it be a small scale comedy or big budget studio film, Verbinski commits to his vision and uses his talents to make his films as fun as they can be- this film is no exception, and one of his best efforts yet. 

• The cinematography. Some great visuals and camera work, especially during the action sequences. 

WORST ELEMENT 

• It's all over the place. For each swing that the film takes that lands, a safer swing misses or feels like it needed more attention. Whether it be the more often than not expostion-heavy dialogue, rushed character arcs, overlong sequences, etc. Not an actual criticism on the film itself, but I'm not a big fan of the title too. 

RATING

7/10

You should watch it, buddy!