As one would expect from the title, Gordon-Levitt plays a Cassanova type. As New Jersey bartender John Martello, he's a master at scoring one-night-stands with the hottest women at nightclubs every weekend, without fail. His closest friends, Bobby (Rob Brown) and Danny (Jeremy Luke) call him "Don Jon" and are frequently amazed with his prowess. But John has a secret: he's addicted to pornography. In fact, no matter how heated and passionate his flings get, it can't compare, at least in his mind, to the bliss he feels when masturbating to sex of the virtual variety. But after he fails to snag Barbara Sugarman (Scarlet Johannson), a woman he's intoxicated by, in the same manner he's bedded so many others, he realizes he's going to have to pull out his "long game" and date her the old-fashioned way. So, thanks to a little detective work and the magic of Facebook, John meets up with Barbara and believes he is on his way to what he hopes is a far more rewarding sex life. But there's that pesky addiction to deal with.......
"Wait!" you protest. "Why settle for porn when you have someone as hot as Scarlett Johansson?" That's an excellent question indeed, and Don Jon delves deep into the main character's mentality with regard to this issue. To John, porn represents the ultimate in sexual freedom. You can view what you want when you want, and you never have to worry about meeting someone else's expectations or adjusting to that person's preferences in the bedroom. He can enjoy real sex, but it's occasionally unsatisfying; something he never feels with porn. John asserts he's not a junkie, but once he utters that all-too-familiar refrain of "I can stop whenever I want," we know right then and there that he's fighting an uphill battle. And given Barbara's utter disgust with porn, we know their relationship will at some point undergo major turbulence.
Barbara is a controlling woman and as is obsessed with the "Hollywood romance" mentality of what a man should be as John is with porn. She leads John along and makes him work harder than he's ever had just to obtain that first sexual encounter. Some of her suggestions are helpful, like encouraging John to take a night class or two and work toward his degree, and his parents (played by Tony Danza and Glenne Headly) love her, but there's something a little off about her that we can sense from the get-go but can't quite put our finger on. When John meets a frazzled woman named Esther (Julianne Moore) at his night class, he eventually finds someone he can confide in about his sexual difficulties. The manner in which this plotline plays out may surprise you.
Don Jon is equally notable for its relentless energy as it is for its thematic material and touch. This may be Gordon-Levitt's first time behind the camera, but his work here resembles that of a seasoned pro. The film's editing is crisp and smooth, and the filmmakers have a little fun parodying the romantic comedy formula along the way (especially hilarious is the inclusion of a fake movie that John and Barbara attend, starring Channing Tatum and Anne Hathaway). And many of John's "insights" about porn-watching, from the length of time it takes to "find the right clip" to the unfortunate timing of certain images with the viewer's orgasm, are drop-dead hilarious. That old line of "it's funny because it's true" will certainly apply with many straight male viewers here.
With his pumped-up physique and chauvinist mannerisms, Gordon-Levitt certainly dominates the screen, but he also does an excellent job selling his character's struggle with all things sex, love, and expectations. As he has grown steadily as an actor, he proves equally adept at culling the right performances out of his co-stars. Especially effective are the two main actresses, Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore, who shine playing women with two very different sets of psychological issues. The chemistry between each pairing is spot-on and works in different ways. If there's a noticeable, in-the-moment misstep, however, it's John's parents. Danza and Headly certainly portray colorful characters, but these two are characterized a little too broadly compared to the rest of the cast.
Based on the promotional material for Don Jon, one might be wondering whether 90 minutes of thick Jersey accents (bringing back bad memories of Jersey Shore) might be too much to bear. But the movie doesn't need to address that question; it has far more on its plate. Are the points that Don Jon has to make about sexual enlightenment new or revolutionary? Not really, but the important part is that in this film, they feel true-to-life. And the ending satisfies on an emotional level without cheating. Don Jon is breezy, frequently funny, and thoughtful, all in one package. It's the kind of mainstream entertainment you'll be happy to throw down $11 for, whether you go alone or with a date.
Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)
No comments:
Post a Comment