By Jeremy Hannaford (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: October 9, 2013
Don Jon is about a Jersey guy addicted to porn.
As long as you don’t mind that the characters are douchebags, prepare for a steady stream of good humour with an extra dose of vulgarity and sexual prowess.
Joseph Gordon Levitt has come a long way from being that kid on 3rd Rock from the Sun to the writer and director of his own theatrical feature. While some actors-turned-directors take the deep plunge into unknown territory, Levitt keeps it simple. The main character Jon follows a set of guidelines based on what matters to him: his self-image, family, church forgiveness, womanizing friends, and finally, pornography.
But when he meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), an equally self-infatuated girl from the club who plays hard-to-get, Jon believes he is in love and tries to change his ways. This is where the film diverges from the straightforward romantic comedy (not that the vulgarity and inclusion of clips from pornographic films don’t already set it apart); it shows that finding “the right girl” isn’t the best way to deal with life’s issues.
Don Jon is a view of the world from Jon’s eyes. Barbara is cast in a warm gold glow that lights her up at night, thanks to Jon’s imagination. One hilarious moment in his perspective is at the movies – passing through the theatre we are treated to posters like “So Fast,” “So Hard,” and “Someone Special.” Films don’t work into his priorities, so he passes them by without notice. Moments such as these are not as frequent as they could have been, but they still generate some laughter.
The underlying story of Don Jon is about addiction. It makes sense after watching the film that its original title was Don Jon’s Addiction. Some addictions that don’t seem outwardly harmful can damage a person’s outlook on the world. Jon’s expectations of sex are influenced by his addiction, making it nearly impossible for him to experience complete pleasure with another woman. His breakdown of the entire process is as undignified as it is humorous, and his passionate hatred of the missionary position is hysterical as he constantly compares it to clips he has watched.
While Don Jon does have an interesting lead, the same can’t be said of some of the secondary characters. Aside from Barbara’s nonstop gum-chewing and bigoted attitude and Esther (Julianne Moore)’s social awkwardness, none of the other personalities are memorable. Jon’s friends, despite the amount of screen time they get, are ultimately forgettable, and his parents are only memorable because Jon Sr. (Tony Danza) never stops swearing or making you wonder how he is still in films at all, and his mother is just loud. While Don Jon is centred on the main character, there are times when those secondary characters should be more prominent.
The film sticks with a similar routine for the first half, but when it reaches the middle it really does become interesting. Jon’s lifestyle, womanizing, and Hail Marys as workout reps move aside for the introduction of Moore’s character. Esther is a reflection to Jon, and over time becomes more than just an awkward classmate.
Sometimes feeling like a more adult version of 500 Days of Summer, Levitt’s debut as a director isn’t groundbreaking, but brings enough humour and graphically creative insight to the sexual side of relationships and its meaning to the couple as a whole.
