Check out our Don Jon review, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson, after the break.
“The film is funny, takes a look behind the curtain at the average male ‘wish’, and brings up some amusing questions”
Don Jon follows the story of Italian American Jon Martello, portayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as he battles with a porn addiction. This addiction, amusingly, distorts Martello’s perception of reality to a degree. Currently a player in search of a dime, someone who ranks a 10 out of 10 in terms of looks, our title character quickly realizes that real girls don’t, err, perform? Like porn stars. In fact, he’s very disheartened by his sex life. Porn is the only thing that ‘works’ for him, fully. Damn, this is difficult to write.
Joking aside, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has done a commendable job as both director and main star. The film is funny, takes a look behind the curtain at the average male ‘wish’, and brings up some amusing questions. Like: Guys watch porn, and get ideas. Women watch romantic movies, and get ideas. Both are fantasy, but both forge expectation based on said illusion.
One, small, problem? It took me, personally, a bit of time to get used to the voice work from both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson. Likely because the accents are so far away from what I am used to them sounding like. That said, the same problem wasn’t a problem in Blood Diamond; Leo nailed it! Anyway, this isn’t to say the acting is bad; both are quite funny, to be honest. I laughed quite a few times, and for me to actually laugh is something. Usually it’s just ‘ha’.
Aside from that, the film is well done. Levitt has a future in directing, and it was amusing to see Scarlett Johansson playing a bit of a cow. Can I say that in a review? Ah, what the hell! The pacing seemed fine, but the ending came off a bit rushed. If I had to say the ‘lesson’ of the film, because you know American cinema loves teaching us something, it would be that ‘the real thing is better’.
Overall thoughts:
Don Jon is an amusing watch, maybe not for couples, full of swipes at modern perceptions and double standards. I found it refreshing to see a movie show how difficult it can be to be a guy, seriously. This idea we should all be Hugh Grant is annoying!
