On the latest episode of Reel Reviews, a New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love in the romantic comedy, Don Jon.
Audio Review
After over 20 years of quality performances and working with some of the biggest names in the business, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s latest is his most personal film.
Carefully cultivating this story for several years, Gordon-Levitt stars as young, soulless, Jon, a narcissistic young man who cares about his car, his boys, his women, his body, his family and his porn. Nicknamed “Don Jon” because of his prowess picking up “dimes” at the club, although he has plenty of things, he connects with none of them.
His life changes when he meets and falls for the manipulative Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), who artfully and skillfully keeps our Lothario at bay as she tries to remake him into her “perfect” man. Soon, Jon’s lifestyle proves too much for the judgmental and somewhat prudish Barbara but an unlikely union helps set Jon on a positive path, while teaching him valuable life lessons as well.
The film is chock-full of solid performances starting with Gordon-Levitt, who is excellent as a pretty, yet shallow vessel. Johansson brings both the sexy and Jersey shore attitude as the perfect jumping off point for Jon’s redemption. Tony Danza and Glenne Headly are also wonderful as his parents and while Brie Larson doesn’t have much to do, what she brings makes quite an impact. Finally, Julianne Moore’s character, Esther, channels flightiness with empathy, providing the perfect complement for Jon.
As a writer/director, Gordon-Levitt displays a strong storytelling sense, probably cultivated from his time spent on so many films sets over the past two decades. This story could serve as a metaphor for our culture in that we have become too obsessed with pop culture with social media and we fail to connect with others through more conventional means.
He employs creative shots and visual flourishes in Don Jon that proves his talent and ability to make a good film, but the fact is that he probably could develop into a fine director over time. While many people will go in looking for plenty of porn, what they will leave with is a humorous coming-of-age story of an empty shallow lover who transforms into a fully-developed man.
Grade: A-
wow! i didn’t know you knew how to form an “A” cause you’re a hard movie rater. this movie must have really been good to get this rating from YOU!.