Not Okay: Film Review
Not Okay, written and directed by Quinn Shephard, is a satire about social media and influencer culture that we all need in our lives right now.
Zoey Deutch plays Danni Sanders, a photo editor and wannabe writer at the cultural website Depravity. She is fed up with her life and is in desperate need of attention. To impress her work crush Colin (Dylan O’Brien), she pretends she’s going on a writer’s retreat in Paris and fakes the trip on Instagram. Unfortunately for her, a terrorist attack occurs in Paris at the same time. Rather than coming clean, Danni continues the lie and pretends to be a victim for attention.
I think everyone should watch this because it really captures the times we live in, where some people will do or say anything online to get attention and possibly become an influencer. This film obviously takes that to the extreme but the point remains the same. It serves as an important reminder that likes and followers and fake online popularity are not the same as having real friends and a fulfilled life and sometimes you should put your phone away and go live it.
I really loved the concept and the screenplay has moments of brilliance (it’s so well observed) but I wanted it to have a bit more bite. Danni does something awful but there were times when the movie made me feel sorry for her and that shouldn’t be the case. Pretending you’re the victim of a terror attack to make yourself famous is really messed up!
I love Deutch in everything and she is excellent again here. She gives Danni depth and more substance when the character could have easily been a one-note bitch. She knows how ridiculous and superficial Danni is but still grounds her in reality and excels when Danni hits rock bottom later on.
But the star of the show is Mia Isaac (going two for two between this and Don’t Make Me Go) as Rowan, a survivor of a school shooting. They bond over their “shared” experience and Danni becomes inspired to “tell her story” and speak up for survivors too, although she basically just copies Rowan. Rowan seems like such a sweet normal girl most of the time, but when she gets on stage, she lets rip and her speeches are delivered with so much anger, power and emotion.
O’Brien supports them as the stoner bro with peroxide hair, tatts and a blaccent. He seems like he’s channelling James Franco in Spring Breakers. It’s weird but I’m thrilled that he’s breaking out of his pigeonhole and playing somebody totally different to his normal role.
I had high expectations for Not Okay because the premise was so awesome. I didn’t think the idea was used to its full potential and I lost interest in it a little towards the end but I enjoyed the performances.
On Disney+ now