December 31st, 1999. It should have been the party of all parties, as described in Prince’s song, but there was a discernible fear regarding a computer bug, that much like that handsy uncle who can’t handle his drink, would strike at midnight.

A collective sigh of relief could be heard around the globe, especially from the banking sector, as absolutely nothing happened when the second hand swept into 2000. But what if it did?

Despite it being 31st December, 1999, teenage friends Eli (Jaeden Martell) and Danny (Julian Dennison) have no real plans for the big night ahead, which sucks. But although they’re not part of any acceptable clique at Crawford High, they consume enough Dutch courage to crash a party.

Eli is happy to be there knowing that his friend Laura (Rachel Zegler) is going to be there, who he has a massive crush on, so tonight could be the night.

And although the choons are filling the house, and there’s booze aplenty, the year 2000 has an instant surprise up its electronic sleeve, by gate-crashing not only their party, but the entire world. So now Eli has more to contend with than just butterflies for Laura, with the rise of the machines that are in no mood to party.

This is somewhat of a surprise, coming as it does from the A24 stable, who often produce overly earnest, so-called edgy films. This is a hybrid of a film, like Superbad meets Black Mirror, with a hint of Stranger Things thrown in for good measure.

The Superbad reference probably isn’t coincidental, seeing that the film has Jonah Hill as a producer. The film also features a fun bromance, that echoes that of Hill and Cera’s, which is no bad thing.

It’s a wacky directorial debut for actor Kyle Mooney, who also co-wrote the script, that will probably appeal to a certain demographic, that of late Generation X’ers and early Millenials, who would have been in their early twenties around the turn of the millennium. It taps into the cultural zeitgeist of the time, with its fashion and music, that includes CD mixes and video stores, making for a fun retro trip.

And for a first film it’s hugely entertaining, especially if you hit that sweet age spot, where all those references will have you smiling like a teen once more.

And if that wasn’t enough, Mooney throws in a timely cameo, ‘Rollin’’ across the screen that certain makes an impact.

It’s not the only cameo either, as Clueless star Alicia Silverstone also pops up.

Perhaps it shoots itself in the foot a little, by getting rid of one of the most charismatic characters fairly early on, but there’s a post credit scene that almost makes up for it.

It also doesn’t maintain the silly killing scenes that ramps up in earlier scenes, but by then it’s probably won you over with its retro charm.

And Zegler makes a good scream queen, for a role that will hopefully see her get less hate than her soon-to-be-soon take as Snow White, which she seems to be getting for the crime of being a Latina. How dare she.

Unlike the majority of A24 films, this one doesn’t take itself seriously, which will no doubt disappoint the majority of A24 fans, but it’s certainly a welcome change as far as we’re concerned.

By playing homage to a particular time in history as it does so well, it will certainly resonate with those that were there and can still vaguely remember.

And if you weren’t, you can still enjoy the What If... scenario that plays out, done with a wicked wit and humour, with its amusing take on the end of the world.