'Y2K' does for Millennials what 'Dazed and Confused' did for '70s kids

As clocks ticked toward the millennium, many feared what would happen to our computerized world. That fear had a name — Y2K.

It had not been long since, within a blink of an eye, society embraced personal computers, Tamagotchi pets, email, and dial-up internet. But were digital clocks programed to handle the simple switch from 1999 to the year 2000? Or would this calendar change cause a major glitch, turning the tech we depended on violently against us?

RELATED: In 'Joker: Folie à Deux,' the joke's on you

I was a teenager during Y2K, and it was actually a lot like that ... just without the murderous technology bent on the destruction of humanity. What would have happened if our fears were realized? The film "Y2K" answers that question in a gory display punctuated by nostalgic, rated R, laughter.

Kyle Mooney (of SNL fame) co-wrote this movie, and also plays Garrett, a stoner video store clerk. Though a side character, his presence is never without laughs (I worked at a video store during this time with someone very much like him). Expect the comedy to be part juvenile and part stoner, and mostly driven by remembering that life was once like this — a CD player taped to a car's dashboard, playing through a cassette adapter, and waiting an hour for an image to slowly download line-by-line onto your computer screen. With B-movie level monsters, the effects and costumes plug into this vibe quite well.

The story is anchored by a Scooby gang of high school saviors fighting for humanity before it's too late, including Jaeden Martell (Eli), Rachel Zegler (Laura), Julian Dennison (Danny), Daniel Zolghadri (CJ), Lachlan Watson (Ash), as well as a few surprises that should be familiar to the class of 2000. The cast performs well, despite most being born after the time they are portraying.

The most intriguing part about "Y2K" is not so much its casting and jokes, rather, it's the culture that sprang up around the year 2000 that is on full display.

"Y2K" is perhaps the best representation of a unique demographic that came of age around the 2000, many of whom were the first to be called "Millennials." Yet they more aptly fit in a pocket between Gen X and Millennials (Xennials). It's a group that remembers typewriters and rotary phones as much as they do laptops and cell phones. This is the generation that paid for Limp Bizkit CDs, wore JNCO jeans, and made the whale tail a fashion statement ... and also immaturely giggled when saying "whale tail." This generation's understanding of computers and the internet was heavily influenced by the '90s movie "Hackers" (an influence that is certainly felt in this film). This is the atmosphere that "Y2K" breathes (or more more accurately, tokes).

RELATED: 'Wicked' enters new era of fandom with big-screen debut

While audiences who like stoner humor and comedic debauchery will be entertained, "Y2K" is mostly for these Xennials, who will find it very familiar as they are guided down memory lane. Such as the great clique debates of old, that separated those who loved corporate, synthetic rap rock and snobby music purists; popular kids and the freaks on a leash. This generation will also likely point out a few inconsistencies, such as the fact that nobody, particularly teens of this time, would be using USB drives, or that the "Thong Song" didn't come out until a few months after New Year's.

"Y2K" fits alongside films like "American Graffiti" or "Dazed and Confused" (mostly "Dazed and Confused") which were made long after the times and generations they represented. While it won't be winning any awards by reminding us that the "Thong Song" was once a hit, "Y2K" will go down as a film that so well captures the generation that came of age in the year 2000.

"Y2K"

2.75/5 stars

Screen or stream? Stream this at home, but do so with Millennials/Xennials who can recall the time and pick apart the chronological accuracy.

Rated R: Blood, gore, nudity, drugs, and other comedic debauchery.

Good for kids? No.

What else? "Y2K" has some gore in it, and in some cases it goes beyond what is needed and will have some looking away from the screen.