Don Jon

Release Date: Sep 27, 2013  
Runtime: 1 hr. 29 min. 
Director: Joseph Gordon-Levitt 
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza.

Sex, love...or something like that. Marking the directorial debut of Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a (not so) romantic comedy about relationships and its abject complexities. JGL stars as Jon Martello, a womanizer and church goer who's addicted to porn. When the woman of his dreams catches his eye, his once orderly life gets thrown into disarray. Having starred in a variety of films much to critical acclaim, Gordon-Levitt proves again his prowess as a skillful chameleon. Going full-on guido for the role, and convincingly so, he plays a dislikable character who must mend his ways. Stepping behind the camera, he seems like any seasoned pro, showing off his artistic flair and knack for creativity. The interjection of scenes with bursts of erotica is visually stimulating and striking, if not somewhat overpowering. That being said, the repetition of frames can get dull at times, though it does lay the framework for which the story aligns. Humor is key to any good relationship and "Don Jon" is clearly no exception. Highly entertaining and intermittently relatable, it's a non-stop riot, especially in the woes of dating. While the film objectifies sex and fixates on stereotypes, the satirical nature is key in keeping it leveled. Bringing freshness to an industry overrun with veterans, the career path looks bright for this rising, young director.

Rating: 3½ stars