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Directed bySNLalum Kyle Mooney in his directorial debut and co-written by him and Evan Winter,Y2Kfollows two high school outcasts, Eli (Jaeden Martell) and Danny (Julian Dennison), who finally decide to live a little by crashing a major party at a classmate’s house on New Year’s Eve in 1999. What begins as aSuperbadorCan’t Hardly Waitstyle comedy, rife with all the woes of teenage angst, quickly morphs into an imaginative and bloody version of the actual computer problem the country potentially faced as the year 2000 rolled in.
However, in Mooney’s film, the computers take over at midnight and people’s worst fears come to fruition astechnology comes to lifeand immediately turns against humanity. As a result, Eli and Danny come face to face with killer machines as they do their best to survive. Definitely more comedy than horror,Y2Kacts as an homage to the 1990s rather than an accurate depiction of what could have been 25 years ago, and that’s not a bad thing.
The best part ofY2Kisn’t its narrative nor its take on the computer problem that many feared might happen back then. Instead,the accuracy of its 1999 aesthetic, from the music, the clothes, the early days of the internet, and the slang, perfectly captures what it meant to be a teenager at the time. Simply because of that, the film is worth watching.Y2Kdoesn’t merely take place in 1999; it inundates viewers with how it felt to be alive at that time, which Millennials will remember all too well. It’s certainly a silly and ridiculous movie. However, that’s exactly its intent. From the moment the film begins, it’s abundantly clearY2Kis more about reminiscing on the “good old days” of 1999 before the internet was ubiquitous. That alone makesY2Kworth going to the theater for.
The Details of 1999 in ‘Y2K’ Are Everywhere
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Given how the film begins, it’s extremely easy to forget it’s not actually acoming-of-age teen comedy. From the onset,Y2Kperfectly captures what it meant to be a teenager at the turn of the millennium, and every detail leading up to midnight on New Year’s Eve reinforces its 1999 aesthetic. The film opens with AOL Instant Messenger and includes screen names that spell words like “girl” with a “u” rather than an “i,” an indicative characteristic of the time.
The style ofY2K’scharacters hit the nail on the head with its numerous butterfly clips, platform shoes, and mesh tops. Aside from the mainstream looks, the film’s first party scene also highlights each individual style of the time, from the popular kids with puka shell necklaces to the ska-loving kids in vintage swing-style clothing. If it was popular in any way in 1999,Y2Kreferences it at least in passing.
Time Bomb Y2K Review: HBO Documentary Gives a New Year’s Warning
The HBO documentary Time Bomb Y2K revisits the famous New Year’s Eve scare in the lead up to the millennium.
Abercrombie is mentioned, the new and wildly popularThat ‘70s Showis discussed, the characters burn CDs with their favorite personalized playlists, theVHS tapes in the video storeare abundant, a now-extinct concept, and every minor detail in the background, including the interior designs of each home, all scream 1999. If the audience remembers it from 25 years ago, it’s all but guaranteed to be included in the film.
The soundtrack alone serves as a throwback to the time, with songs such as “Thong Song” by Sisqó, “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain, and “Back at One” by Brian McKnight, just to name a few. There are countless others that perfectly represent the moment, and one artist in particular even makes a substantial appearance. Everything aboutY2Kserves as a trip down memory lane for those who were teenagers at the time. It’s essentially a time capsule of the era, which makes the film quite an entertaining experience, especially for those who remember the qualms leading up to the Y2K problem.
Fred Durst Solidifies ‘Y2K’s’ 1999 Aesthetic
It’s no secret that Fred Durst appears in the film, but his role is definitely more than a mere cameo. In fact, he’s the cherry on top ofY2K’s1999 cake, and he enters the film at the perfect time. He plays himself, which is arguably one of the funniest parts of the entire movie.Once the machines begin to take over and the teens that are left eventually escape, the film begins to lose its 1990s appeal. Given its narrativeessentially includes the apocalypse, it makes sense that the 1999 aesthetic would start to dwindle.
However, Fred Durst pulls the audience back to 1999 at just the right moment. He even makes a Tipper Gore reference, which is probably the most 1990s thing anyone in the film could have done because it’s highly unlikely anyone born in this millennium even understood what he was talking about. That being said, it was hilarious. WhileY2Kcertainly isn’t a groundbreaking horror-comedy worthy of any awards, it’s an entertaining film, nonetheless, simply because it perfectly embodiesthe look and feel of 1999. Hands down, that’s what makes the movie worth a watch.Y2Kis currently playing in theaters.
