9/25/13

Don Jon

Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues to grow as an artist. In this R-rated comedy (that he wrote and directed) he addresses some contemporary issues. The ubiquity of pornography has had a major impact on the dating game. Young men learn self-satisfaction and little else, while young women seek their own (maybe not sexual) self-satisfaction from other sources, e.g., chick flicks and shopping.

Several things jumped out at me: 1) The dialog coach was brilliant. Everyone in the cast had perfect Jersey accents, including the unique inflections. 2) Scarlett Johansson was amazing; she is the ultimate actress. 3) Do all Catholics keep score each week so their confessions are accurate? If so, why does the penance never vary?

Take a look at these players:
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("Premium Rush") is the legendary horndog who comes to realize that his expectations for a partner are unrealistic because they are based on porno films. BTW, his weekly routine always includes church on Sunday (and that itemized confession).
  • Scarlett Johansson ("The Avengers") plays the woman of his dreams. This gum-popping blonde even gets him to buy curtain rods.
  • Julianne Moore ("What Maisie Knew") attends our hero's adult education class; every young man should have a classmate like her.
  • Tony Danza (Lots of TV) is terrific as Don Jon's father, but he will make you groan when you see his response to his son's date.
  • Glenne Headly ("Kit Kittredge: An American Girl") makes a pasta dish for Sunday dinner every week. She looks like a grand- mother but has no grandchildren to show for it!
  • Brie Larson ("21 Jump Street") is our hero's texting sister who finally opens her mouth and speaks!
Be warned that this is about pornography, so it includes a LOT of very naughty film clips; it is about young, single men in the dating game, so it includes a LOT of profanity; it is about growing up, so it includes a LOT of confusion and humor.

The theater was packed with young adult couples. I hope they learned something! Because I'm not a young adult, I found the script a bit over- simplified, but Gordon-Levitt is well-intended, so I give him points. And I LOVED the don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-them uncredited cameos by famous contemporaries who obviously got a big kick out of helping their friend.
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Take a look:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3228804633/
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