Don Jon Movie Blurb by Shale September 28, 2013 This movie must have been a labor of love for Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who wrote the story, directed and starred in it. It is rated R because of vulgar language, sexual situations, graphic sexual imagery and strong adult themes, so be forewarned that this review may have some unsavory words in it. (Unless you're from fuckin' New Joisey, and then, apparently, you won't notice). The movie opens with Don Jon's (Gordon-Levitt) voiceover describing the things important in his life; his body, his pad, his ride, his boys (who gave him the moniker Don because of his uncanny scoring of babes), his family, and his porn (not necessarily in that order as the theme of this movie is Jon's dependence on porn). Watching Porn Don Jon is very successful at bedding any number of gorgeous women, but even after having real sex he prefers getting off to his online porn. There is a whole grafic dialogue as to why porn is superior to real sex and as a young man he gets off to it from 15 to 20 times a week (as we learn in his weekly confessions to the priest). Oh yes, Jon is a quite parochial, New Jersey 'guido.' And, when the priest gives him a certain number of "Hail Mary's" or "Our Father's" to say in penance, Jon does them during reps at the gym. Workout Penitence All is going well with Jon's life until one night at the pickup bar objectifying babes with his boys he spots a 10 in a red dress (Scarlett Johansson). He attempts all his charms to get into her panties but she is hard to get. Red Dress Attempted Pickup He later tracks her down, finds out her name is Barbara and pursues her for a long-haul romance. Jon is smitten and they hit it off, even to the point of meeting his family (Tony Danza and Glenne Headley). All thru the movie, Jon's sister (Brie Larson) doesn't utter a line, instead constantly texting as so many teens do, even while with the family at mass. Jon's Mom & Dad All is going well even tho it turns out that Barbara is a number 10 ball crusher. Jon is making adjustments to living with another person and adjusting to her disapproval of a guy looking at porn by lying that he doesn't. He even starts a class at the community college on her insistence, to do better than being a bartender. That is where he meets Esther (Julianne Moore) an older woman with her own personal problems but one who can see thru so many of Jon's problems, such as catching him watching porn on his iphone in class. I really liked this movie. I might even see it again in theater before getting the DVD. It was also liked by 81% of the aggregate reviewers on Rottentomatoes as well as 75% of audiences. The movie was fast paced, witty, funny and just an enjoyable hour and a half. Yeah, I recommend it.
