By Lynn Venhaus

A science fiction action-adventure horror comedy are many genres to cram into one anti-artificial intelligence film, but Sam Rockwell’s bonkers’ performance makes “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” an interesting commentary for our time.

Rockwell plays a “Man from the Future” who walks into Norm’s Diner in Los Angeles to recruit patrons to join him on a one-night quest to save the world from the terminal threat of a rogue artificial intelligence.

Disheveled and wearing a clear plastic raincoat, he alarmed diners who think he’s crazy and he flings their phones around and warns of an upcoming apocalypse. Whoa.

The unnerving snarky satire by Matthew Robinson gives Rockwell the ball to slam-dunk, and his trademark fast-talking, high-energy goofiness is worth paying attention to as he cautions earthlings to put down their phones and focus on what is happening in the world.

As the “Man from the Future,” the eccentric Rockwell screams to a diner patron: “Progress is only progress if it makes things better! Otherwise, it’s a mistake!” and this is the film’s theme – that the human cost of technology obsession and unbridled AI will be loss of connection and mental health.

At what price are we willing to sacrifice what makes us human? People whose existential dread is fueled by society’s inability to shut off screens for any length of time may experience more anxiety about perpetual distraction ruining everything.

And it’s not subtle at all. This chaotic cautionary tale gets real about school shootings and teachers’ inability to educate rude, sarcastic and apathetic teenagers in unhinged scenarios.

Director Gore Verbinski is not afraid to take risks, for he’s made “The Ring,” the original trilogy of “The Pirates of the Caribbean” and the Oscar-winning animated film “Rango.” After a 10-year break, he’s back with his quirky visual style and maintains a manic pace, even though the message’s momentum eventually wanes.

A series of backstories on characters that Rockwell’s enlists “to save society” gives strong actors like Michael Pena (Mark), and Zazie Beetz (Janet) as teachers, Haley Lu Richardson (Ingrid) as a birthday party princess, Juno Temple (Susan) as a grieving mother, Georgia Goodman (Marie), and Asim Chaudhry (Scott) as a ride-share driver an opportunity to craft distinct personalities, but they aren’t given much time to develop any depth.

The lack of explanation on character behaviors and situations ultimately hurts the film’s reception, as does the unrelenting frenzy and the overall bleak attitude. The jokes stop being funny.

Composer Geoff Zanelli, production designer David Brisbin and costume designer Neil McClean all brought their A-game to this strange, trippy production that bears closer resemblance to a cocktail of “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Creator,” “The Mitchells vs. The Machines,” and “The Wizard of Oz” as the film unfolds.

Messy but relevant, and overlong at 2 hours, 14 minutes, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” is well-meaning about brain rot and hive minds, and benefits from a bizzaro star turn by Rockwell.

The Oscar-winning actor thrives on weirdness, and he merrily goes down Verbinski’s virtual reality rabbit hole. The director takes big swings that become visual overload as the clock runs out, but the point of view is original.

“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” is a fidget spinner for our time, and forces us to pay attention.

“Good Luck, Don’t Die, Have Fun” is a 2025 sci-fi action-adventure horror comedy directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Sam Rockwell, Juno Temple, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Pena, Zazie Beetz, Georgia Goodman, and Asim Chaudhry. It is rated R for pervasive language, violence, some grisly images and brief sexual content and runs 2 hours, 14 minutes. Opens in theatres Feb. 13. Lynn’s Grade: B.