It’s so ridiculous that it’s utterly fantastic. But you’ve never heard of it, and there’s a reason for that. Considering the ultra-suburban setting, the amusingly stiff dialogue (these are awkward people, mind you), the Sunday-best wardrobes, and the fussy characters with their non-stop moments of “are you kidding me” (they aren’t), the plot is out of left field. But it’s also outrageously hilarious.
(Whether it’s outrageously unrealistic – or not – is for another day.)
Eight friends get together for brunch and find out that the world is about to end – literally. After fits are thrown because the internet isn’t working and the phone line is down and the electricity suddenly goes out, the Mr. and Mrs. of the house argue about whether the bills were paid until their neighbor (played by Todd Berger) shows up in a hazmat suit, looking for batteries for his flashlight. Whyyyyy is he wearing a hazmat suit, everyone wants to know? Oh, because a bunch of bombs full of nerve gas were dropped downtown and in other parts of the country and God knows where else in the world, so hello, they’re all going to die.
Is he serious? Was he huffing paint? Well, the television isn’t working, it’s eerily quiet outside, and their only way of finding out by not opening the door is to find a radio. So they do. And it turns out that, no, Hal from next door wasn’t high on paint fumes.
Pete (Blaise Miller) and Emma (Erinn Hayes) dropped their own metaphorical bomb on their guests just minutes before Hal showed up asking for batteries. They’re getting a divorce. That seems trivial now, but while duct taping the doors and windows and arguing the best survival methods, more secrets are exposed that aren’t met with any sort of trivial-because-the-world-is-ending equilibrium. It might be a good idea to keep a cool head and not break a window because of the nerve gas outside and all, but what fun would that be?
But forgiveness really is preferable so that everyone can die peacefully among friends. Hedy (America Ferrera), the chemist, breaks down the long and painful process that they’ll endure once the gas seeps its way in. So what now? The only normal one in the group is actually the crazy one (in comparison and in general), and crazy usually knows best when facing an apocalypse.
You might not love it, but I promise you’ll enjoy it.
Watch on Hulu
https://www.hulu.com/movie/its-a-disaster-709a417a-0d50-4c4c-8ab0-1429fbee238a
Also starring Julia Stiles, Rachel Boston, Kevin M. Brennan, David Cross, and Jeff Grace.
Certain Movies & Things 