Joseph Gordon–Levitt’s first (and, hopefully, not last) time writing, directing and starring in a feature is the story of Jon Martello (Gordon–Levitt), a materialistic partier whose obsession with internet porn has taken a toll on his sex life. Gordon–Levitt, whose story is a loose adapation of Don Juan, is an accomplished actor with a wide emotional range, and he uses his experience in both drama and comedy to examine the elements of mature attitudes towards balanced and unbalanced relationships.
Jon starts off as a caricature, a typical jerk objectifying women, but gradually develops realistic expectations. The other characters, like Scarlett Johansson’s romcom–obsessed manipulator and Jon’s stereotypical bickering parents (Tony Danza and Glenne Headly), are interesting and often funny—but remain entirely static. They function as yardsticks by which to measure Jon’s changes. Characters like Julianne Moore’s Esther still would have benefited from a bit more fleshing out.
Gordon–Levitt’s writing fluctuates from spot–on satirical (epitomized by a hilarious discussion about Swiffer pads) to corny, but it never inappropriately wanders into cliche. The film’s real strength comes from a combination of Lauren Zuckerman’s fantastic editing and Nathan Johnson’s original music, which brings out both humor and meaning in even the most inconsequential moments.
With the help of a talented cast and crew, Gordon–Levitt has crafted a cohesive, enjoyable piece that finds joy and absurdity in an otherwise serious examination of sex, love and relationships. This is not a typical romantic comedy, and its frequent flashes of pornographic images and initially sexist characters may turn off anyone expecting another “(500) Days of Summer.” Although this implies the film requires a certain level of maturity, it’s still a lot of fun for anyone who can get past Jon’s heavy New Jersey accent.
Grade: B+ Rating & Runtime: R, 90 min. See if you liked: “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”
