Don Jon (2013) User Reviews (366)

Anti-romantic Comedy

[themissingpatient · 8/10 · 29 December 2013]

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Jon, a confident, promiscuous, foul-mouthed, obsessive-compulsive, Catholic New Jersey boy. Though he is able to sleep with any woman he likes, which is how his friend's gave him the name Don Jon, he is unable to find the same level of satisfaction he attains through his addiction to online pornography. After meeting Barbara, played by Scarlett Johansson, Jon falls in-love and struggles to choose between her and his addiction.

Where a typical Hollywood romance would end, Don Jon just gets started. This is not a romantic comedy, this is a character-study within an anti-romantic comedy with great performances by an excellent cast in perfectly written roles. Tony Danza and Glenne Headly, as Jon's parents, provide some of the film's biggest laughs while Julianne Moore's character gives the story genuine heart. Joseph Gordon-Levitt proves to be just as talented behind-the-camera as he is in-front of it.

Don Jon does more in one small, 90-minute film than most 2 hour big films have ever accomplished. There is much to learn about relationships in this little tale yet it's never preachy and it keeps the laughs coming. This isn't the kind of film couples will feel comfortable or even want to see but it's the film they need to see. It's sincere and honest truth, no fluff.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a Stinging Critique of Modern Relationships

[JustCuriosity · 8/10 · 12 March 2013]

Don Jon was very well-received in its regional premiere at the Paramount Theatre during Austin's SXSW Film Festival. The film was written, directed and starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He did a really fine job for his writing and directorial debut, but he may have been trying to do too much. The acting by Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Glenne Headly, and Brie Larson is quite good. I think it is Gordon-Levitt's script that leaves something to be desired. His character Jon is a very successful ladies' man who is also heavily addicted to masturbating to internet porn – numerous times daily. Many people will find the film to be quite funny and enjoyable. However, the graphic use of porn will not be to everybody's taste and may be off-putting to viewers – particularly female viewers. I'm also wondering whether the extensive use of porn will lead to the MPAA giving it the kiss-of-death NC-17 rather than an R rating.

JGL's script is well-intentioned and he is trying to make the point that many people become so self-absorbed that they lose the ability to interact with others on a human level. Jon is deadened to real romance by his reliance on porn. His girlfriend has an overly romanticized view of relationships based on watching too many romantic movies. They are both so self-absorbed and selfish that they can't really build a real relationship. Still, it was often difficult to figure out what JGL's point was and in many ways became clearer listening to him during the Q&A after the film. JGL is attempting to raise profound issues about human relationships in the modern era, but he hasn't quite figured out how to do that as a writer and director. I expect that he is going to become as fine a director and writer as he already is an actor. He has a fine future ahead of him.

Solid, hard to define indie satire which will make some very uncomfortable - EXCELLENT first directorial effort!

[eschetic-2 · 7/10 · 6 October 2013]

Defining what kind of film this is had to be the hardest part of getting DON JON made, but ultimately it was worth it! It isn't really a "guy" film even though *technically* it tries to look at sex from a guy's perspective. It may actually best be called a "chick" flick, but one they would see alone rather than with a date. At the screening I saw, ALL the raucous laughter was coming from very obviously female voices - falling out of their chairs laughing over what they viewed as stereotypical male behavior - and even as the supposed "10" played by Scarlett Johansson reveals herself to be the kind of demanding (insert the word for a female canine here) who a very stupid - make that excessively immature - straight boy (like the one played with supreme élan by author/director Gordon-Levitt) would make a fool of himself over!

The film heavily satirizes stereotypical straight New Jersey Catholics - the easily offended of which should probably stay away along with anyone who expects a slick date night romantic comedy that doesn't require them to THINK - but it IS a beautifully structured and polished first directorial effort and very funny in its way. Man or woman though, it is not your usual DATE film to see with the opposite sex. The litmus scene for the film was probably when Johansson (Barbara) confronts Gordon-Levitt (Jon) over watching porn! Foolishly trying to evoke simple reason, he (accurately) tells her that "EVERY guy watches porn - and that anyone who says he doesn't is lying." The theatre got absolutely quiet there for a moment in any section where dates were sitting, as each side wondered what the other was thinking. What YOU may think in that scene will determine a lot about how you view and react to the film. You may enjoy it regardless of what you think of that (for the film) core issue, but you sure won't want to see it with anyone who you can't comfortably talk about it with.

The "home" scenes with Jon's family and Barbara's are probably excess baggage, but they give the central characters broad context (the broadest performance in a very stylized film is probably Tony Danza's performance as Jon's father) - and set up the one totally human moment in the film when Jon's silent sister defines what a good sibling should be when she finally has a line! Ultimately, there is one unexpected, rational woman (Julianne Moore giving a remarkable imitation of Susan Sarandon!) who Jon meets in the night class Barbara insists he take who not only "gets" him but broadens his horizons for the kind of growth any central character in a good film must have.

Don't expect a pat happy ending or a cheap thought-free throw away comedy (and DON'T make it first date material with someone you don't know yet!), and the open minded will have a wonderful time. My take-away image is really of a few years ago at the first Broadway preview of a Tony winning musical called AVENUE Q. Just before it started, a student of mine at the university where I teach came over to introduce his mother who was seeing the show too, sitting in front of each other all the way over at the side. Midway through the show there was a very funny, very outrageous musical number called "You Can Be As Loud As You Want" (When You're making Love). I glanced over to see how my student and his mother were taking it and, as you can imagine, my student, sitting in front of his mother, was sinking onto the floor with embarrassment. What he *couldn't see* was his mother rocking with laughter both at the insouciance of the number and her son's embarrassment! I think my mother (who, as far as I know, probably doesn't approve of pornography) or my minister would be howling with laughter at DON JON too - but they probably wouldn't want anyone they knew to see them doing so.

Recommended - but with noted reservations.

Solid directorial debut by the most likable American actor of his generation, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

[Benedict_Cumberbatch · 28 August 2013]

"Don Jon" (formerly known as "Don Jon's Addiction") is the feature directorial debut of the talented and ridiculously charismatic Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He also wrote the script and plays the title character, a young man from New Jersey who's developed: a) an unhealthy addiction to porn; and b) such unrealistic expectations about sex and love (and sex) that not even a "10" like Barbara (a hilarious Scarlett Johansson, in what is easily her best work since "Vicky Cristina Barcelona") can satisfy him in real life.

"Don Jon" reminded me of a great, half-forgotten French film: Bertrand Blier's "Too Beautiful for You" (1989). In that film, a wealthy car dealer (Gerard Depardieu) who has everything – including a beautiful wife (Carole Bouquet) – falls for his plain, slightly overweight secretary (Josiane Balasko). "Don Jon" is also like Blier's film in the sense that Jon finds his "10," yet he's still unsatisfied. Both films are very different in tone, aesthetics, and geography, but they delicately touch in the realm of our own emotional misconceptions and immaturity. We live in a world where our ever-growing concern about self-image, and the belief that we must abide by unattainable beauty standards in order to find a decent match, have grown so out-of-hand that all we ever do is find obstacles to getting to know anyone who doesn't meet our own ridiculous requirements. We are always waiting for the illusory perfection. Levitt sharply illustrates this issue by way of porn addiction; it might be crude for some, but he manages not to fall into excessive vulgarity or toilet humor.

Also featuring the always wonderful Julianne Moore in an important role, plus Glenne Headly (I've missed her on the big screen), Tony Danza, and Brie Larson as Jon's parents and sister, respectively; "Don Jon" is worth the visit. Here's hoping for more JGL directorial efforts!

Sex, love and pornography.

[starsandpopcorn · 7/10 · 5 October 2013]

As if Joseph Gordon-Levitt couldn't get any better. The former child star has turned into quite the up-and-coming young actor as he's worked to re-brand himself as something more than that kid from 3rd Rock From the Sun. Over the years, he's starred in such films as Brick, The Dark Knight Rises and Looper, and has proved to be the type of actor whom everyone loves - and who actually deserves that love. However, his most impressive performance to date might just be the one he gave behind the camera with Don Jon.

The film marks Levitt's first time writing and directing a feature- length film, and it makes one hell of an impression, especially because he tackles the lead role as well. Don Jon is one of those movies that has plenty of laughs and a few heartfelt moments, and it's certainly entertaining. But it also touches on a few interesting social issues. I think I'll just go ahead and say it, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives away a few trade secrets, much to the horror of men everywhere: Don Jon touches on that dreadfully embarrassing fact that every guy is terrified will come out. What secret is that? Well, it's probably best to put it in the words of the protagonist, Jon, himself: "Every guy looks at porn, every day."

Well, that last part might be a bit of an exaggeration, but Don Jon does bring up the point that pornography has become so readily available through the internet and even television that it's just simply within arm's reach at every single second of every single day, and every guy now and then reaches out to take a handful. However, society still treats it as something shameful and embarrassing, rather than a fact of life.

Don Jon doesn't treat the use of pornography as something that should destroy relationships or cause significant others to fly off the handle in fits of jealousy. In fact, the movie seems to indicate, it's a habit that's probably pretty healthy. That isn't to say that Jon has a healthy habit, as he's reduced to having to look at pornography constantly throughout the day, even after sex, but you know, that's an extreme example.

Then again, maybe it isn't. Maybe the film offers a bit of a warning about how a little pornography is perfectly normal, but a lot can create a monster. Too much porn can make it so that it's nearly impossible to connect with someone else on a meaningful level. After all, watching too much sex can create expectations that are as unrealistic as the ones the romantic comedies create.

What really impressed me about Don Jon, though, are the performances that Levitt pulls out of his co-stars. I've honestly never seen Scarlett Johansson give a better performance than she did as Jon's trashy New Jersey girlfriend, Barbra. She's absolutely despicable as she slowly begin to reveal her true intentions and tries to paint Jon as the bad guy when she discovers his addiction. On top of that, Tony Danza gives a side-splitting performance as Jon's hot-headed father who gets into dick-measuring contest with his son every Sunday night (figurative, people, come on).

However, the most impressive of them all is Levitt himself, who has repeatedly proved that he is one hell of an actor and one who has earned my trust as a moviegoer. The role is something so far from what I would have ever pictured him portraying, but he pulls it off beautifully as he plays the scumbag good-guy stereotype.

Now for the hard part. I really enjoyed Don Jon. It strikes as a solid balance between art and entertainment, it's filled with lots of laughs and it touches on a sensitive topic in a way that doesn't seem preachy. The ending is a little weak, but everything up until that is golden. However, I'm not sure if it's what one would call a date movie, since it will probably lead to inquisitive stares during a quiet car ride home afterward. And honestly, that's really too bad. For the people that are willing to embrace the fact that everyone looks at porn, this movie is well worth the price of admission. However, I'm not sure if most of its value comes from the first viewing. It's no Shame, but there's really no shame in that.

'Don Jon' Puts Jersey Spin on Romantic Comedies

[bill_the_butcher7 · 6/10 · 1 January 2014]

New Jersey guy Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) only cares about a few things in his life: his family, friends, church, and porn. After many one-night-stands, he finally decides to settle down with a "dime" named Barbara (Scarlett Johansson). But not even this relationship can compare to the happiness Jon has when alone with his pornography. When he realizes his porn may be too influential on him, he begins to change his lifestyle and beliefs with help from an older woman (Julianne Moore).

Stories of sex addiction aren't new, having been dealt with most recently in 2011's Shame, but Don Jon feels different. Jon loves porn; he says it many times in voice-over and is consistently shown getting up in the middle of the night to go watch porn after just having sex in real life. He doesn't see it as an addiction, saying "It's porn. It's not heroin," as his excuse. To show the media influence on sex, the film opens by crosscutting many sexualized commercials, film scenes, and television clips over the credits, while actual pornography clips are spliced throughout. But unlike Shame, which treats this topic in an intense, dramatic way, Jon keeps it light, funny, and tries to show how easy it is for someone to unknowingly fall into this addiction in today's sex- obsessed culture.

The film also tackles an exploration of today's relationships. Barbara's own "porn" is romantic Hollywood films that Jon hates. These films have influenced Barbara's ideas on dating (she yells at him to stop cleaning his apartment because it's not sexy) and enforced her beliefs that typical gender roles are the only means to a happy relationship. This film speaks truths about ideas young people may have about dating in today's culture, and while spinning these topics in a mostly comedic light, it is still interesting to consider how much media pertains to our understanding of the world.

Don Jon succeeds in most areas, and one large part is due to its cast. Tony Danza is really funny as Jon's father and Scarlett Johansson (and her hilarious Jersey accent) steals every scene she in. The film offers up a good amount of laughs, and the purposeful repetitive narrative works in showing Jon's changing lifestyle. Most of the film is so upbeat and fast that the last twenty minutes may feel like its dragging, but it can be considered necessary due to Jon's slowed-down new lifestyle.

The fact that this is the first film by writer-director Gordon-Levitt is extremely impressive. Don Jon flies at a mostly fast pace, has a fun cast, and gives a great commentary on sex, relationships, and addiction.

Great directorial debut from JGL

[donokun · 7/10 · 8 March 2013]

I saw this at a pre-screening for SXSW and I was really impressed. Joseph Gordon-Levitt really holds his own as a writer/director, and it was nice to see him in a role I hadn't really considered him "right" for. Scarlett Johansen and Julianne Moore are both wonderful as well. Basically, you should see this if you get the chance. It's funny, charming, different, and tells a great story that ends up going in a direction I hadn't anticipated.

This movie basically tells the story of a young guido (Gordon-Levitt) who has a porn addiction and ends up in a relationship with Scarlett Johansen's character. One thing leads to another, blah blah blah.... you'll see when you see it. I don't want to give too much away.

Anyway, yeah! Really good movie, great directorial debut, and a well told story. I'd recommend this film.

It's not just about porn.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 7/10 · 10 December 2020]

'Don Jon (2013)' isn't just a movie about porn (though, porn and porn addiction do play a large role in the plot). Instead, it's a surprisingly nuanced, emotionally mature and, even, touching affair that aims to break down the artificiality of on-screen romances. It draws a parallel between the unrealistic emotional expectations one may have if they watch too many romantic comedies and the unrealistic sexual expectations one may have if they watch too much pornography. It's actually quite clever in its own sort of way. It's also relatively realistic and reaches an unexpectedly small yet significant conclusion that seemingly couldn't be any further from its starting point. That's because the protagonist is a self-absorbed, sexist womaniser more concerned with his own, greasy hairline than the actual personalities of any of the women he 'scores' nightly. Since we're in his headspace from the very first frame, the actual film can almost be just as grating. However, it isn't long before you realise what it's doing and that its heart is firmly in the right place. Not only does it have interesting and important messaging, it aims for an audience that this sort of film doesn't usually reach. It's typically an enjoyable, unembarrassed experience. It may not look it, but it's unmistakably a film about love. 7/10

Every human male should watch this movie

[pcrawake · 10/10 · 18 December 2013]

I give this movie a 10 because it has a message. It has a true purpose to it, which effects nearly every man on the planet.

Ladies, you can listen to this, but be reasonable. Guys, we all masturbate. Some of us do it more than others, most of us look at porn. Some of us only masturbate to porn and some of us have real hard fetishes.

This movie points to the problem, the process of porn turning our heads, making us believe in perfection and making us ultimately selfish as lovers.

You watch porn, you don't have to please a woman, you don't have to worry about anyone but yourself. It is all perfect. In the real world, in relationships, the other person matters just as much as you, but sometimes, even the real thing is not as good as the fantasy and the ease of it.

Don Jon is about that confusion of liking and appreciating porn more than real women, of becoming addicted to the idea of 'perfection' and the ultimate realization of the effect it has on all us men, making us irritated little boys, incapable of truly connecting with another person.

The message is not that porn is bad, only the way we think and use it is misleading to reality.

But, this is not the type of movie to watch with the family, the girl; it's funny, but not a comedy in a spoof and clown type of way. Watch this movie alone, think about yourself and how porn effects you. It will benefit you greatly.

Good first big filmmaking effort from JGL

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 5 May 2014]

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is bringing his best Jersey Shore impersonation. He's writing, directing, and staring in his first big filmmaking effort. Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) loves only a few things. He cares about his workouts, his cleaning, his car, his family, his church, his boys, chicks, and his porn. Then he meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson) at the club. On a scale from 1 to 10, she's a dime. She loves rom-coms, and she wants to completely change him. She hates him watching porn and gets him to go to night school. At school, nosy Esther (Julianne Moore) keeps bothering him.

There is a lot to commend on JGL's first big effort. He allows his actors to do their thing. Scarlett Johansson does a good Jersey princess. Tony Danza is amazing as the big macho father. JGL really never lets his mask slip. Julianne Moore brings the deepest character in the whole movie. The movie has its dark moments. Its subject matter is edgy. The funny moments are slightly humorous. It's a dark comedy but just not that funny. If there is an emotional truth, it hits it with a hammer. The movie really gets interesting with the Esther character. JGL did some good work here. The style looks sharp. The script probably needs a few more well written jokes. I look forward to his next directing project.

Bad plot+Bad accents+Bad acting=we walked out.

[angie-petersen-123 · 1/10 · 20 October 2013]

I don't know anyone besides 13 year old boys that would give this movie anything over one star. It was horrible. Basically, it was clips of porn intertwined with a very basic, simple story of a guy and his porn addiction. The characters have "jersey" accents that kind of hop in and out of their lingo and jargon making it obvious that they are trying too hard. Don't get me wrong, I like all of the actress/actors in this film. I'm blaming this one on the writing. The plot could be summed up in one sentence or about 5 minutes. I think that's why so many porn clips were added in-to make it longer and seem cutting-edge. The only thing cutting edge about this film is how much porn was shown and it was only rated R. We were expecting to see a film that pushed boundaries but was interesting...not so much. Lame.

A 10 for the message if nothing else...

[MikeM1984 · 10/10 · 23 December 2013]

(Somewhat Spoiler-y) I've dated an older woman, and in a lot of ways she tried to tell me the same things Esther tells Jon. In fact I remember a few distinctly similar interactions, so on that level the movie really spoke to me.

I imagine one could say the movie relies on some clichés, just enough to satisfy the romance/comedy genre, but it uses them in very unique ways to tell a story that at least seems a little more real. Sort of like 500 Days (of Summer) on steroids. No pun intended. In fact it may be even safe to say that Don Jon is the next chapter in the 500 Days saga, albeit with a different character. Perhaps one made cynical by the events of JGL last romance comedy outing.

Don Jon has graduated beyond puppy love, certainly, and onto full blown adult fun. But the movie is very biting, and sort of tears apart his self-serving agenda.

A lot of people seem to be caught up in the "porn" aspect of the movie, but honestly the "porn" is a metaphor, no more important to the gym-tan-laundry-sexualized commercials.

There are only two real female characters in the film: Esther, and Jon's quiet-except-for-one-powerful-line sister. The sister in fact almost makes the movie, as they use her small character to incredible effect.

The movie does a nice job of tricking the audience into rooting for Jon and Barbara, of course it's all a ploy. They even set up Esther as a sort of antagonist. She is enticing yet feels all wrong for Jon. Older, sort of run down, maybe a bit of a predator of weak men, the movie isn't very clear about her at the start. She runs completely counter to the stereotypes of women as set up by the film. She is far from perfect, but Moore makes her believably beautiful. I truly doubt many other actresses could've sold this role in the way she did. While her age played right into the character she probably was right for the character for mostly other reasons.

I don't think the movie is overall that outstanding. Many of the jokes fall flat, and some of it is tedious. In fact the vast majority of it could be considered filler, but the end is so incredible it does a great job of tying all these scenes together in a way that makes perfect sense and delivers a powerful message. Without completely ruining it the end embraces the typical cliché, but flips it on it's head. What results is a very mature version of what audiences have come to expect from these types of movies. The same, but also very different.

I would expect JGL will have continued success as a Director and actor.

The guy truly gets it.

Don Jon was an interesting movie for me concerning the way some men and women look at sex and relationships

[tavm · 7/10 · 29 September 2013]

Just watched this with my movie theatre-working friend and his grown nephew. Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed, and stars as the title character, someone who gets any woman he wants when going to clubs with friends but gets unsatisfied compared to the porn images he looks up on his computer while getting off. Since he's Catholic, he also confesses to a priest every week for these transgressions and does his penance while lifting weights. When he meets Scarlett Johansson, she doesn't take to him right away so he tries harder with her. She seems to want to change him or at least wants him a certain way based on the romantic movies they go to which he doesn't like but holds his tongue concerning those. It's at night school, which the Scarlett character suggested to him, that he meets another woman played by Julianne Moore who might also change him, perhaps for the better. I'll stop there and just say that while I was fascinated by the repetition of certain scenes in order to get the gradual humor that results when those scenes start changing routines-like especially during the climatic family dinner table scene involving dad Tony Danza, mom Glenne Headley, and sis Brie Larson-it's when things take a more dramatic turn that things get really interesting. Like those concerning the Moore character. So on that note, Don Jon is worth a look if you're interested in the mature subject matter.

Absolutely Terrible

[convincing60 · 1/10 · 11 November 2013]

In the past 10 years, I've probably seen more than 200 movies at theaters. This is the first movie that I've ever walked out on. 45 minutes in, I couldn't handle the torture anymore. This is the most unfunny piece of garbage I've ever seen. Although, I did get a good chuckle when about 50% of the audience had left before the halfway mark.

It's hard to meet the minimum post-length requirement for this movie, because there isn't much to say about it.

I didn't find anything clever. Nor did I find them funny. I did think some of the set designs looked okay. This film is a huge waste of time, don't bother wasting your money on this garbage. Just avoid this. It's not even worth a rental.

One of the Most Confident Films You'll Ever See

[Michael_Elliott · 9 October 2013]

Don Jon (2013)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote, director and stars as Jon, a twenty-something man who loves women but what he loves even more is watching porn. He meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson) who demands that he gives it up for her. DON JON isn't the greatest film ever made but I will say that I don't recall ever watching a movie that was so confident. Confidence is something most people lack and even most brass movies lack it but DON JON certainly isn't afraid to say what it wants to and stick by it. Having a romantic comedy that says watching porn is better than being with women and then tells you why that's the case is something incredibly rare. What's even rarer is that this type of subject is usually just played for cheap laughs but here there's a complete story wrapped around it that asks a lot of questions, gives a lot of answers and as I said, is 100% confident about itself. The confidence just really jumps off the screen unlike any movie I've ever seen and that's where the original aspect of this film comes. There have been countless movies that downplay women but this one here just does so in such a fresh and original way that you can't help but enjoy it. It also is very smart about guys, their mentality on sex and various other issues. Gordon-Levitt does a wonderful job all around but especially in the acting department. As the writer he certainly knows this character very well but it still takes a very strong performance to get that to the screen and the actor does a fabulous job. Johansson also turns in her greatest work outside of a Woody Allen picture and Tony Danza is very memorable in his supporting bit as is Glenne Headly and Julianne Moore. The screenplay is certainly dirty and covers a lot of topics but the film never crosses the offensive line. The main reason it doesn't cross the line is that it remains smart no matter what it's saying and how dirty it's being said. DON JON is certainly a refreshing film that should get one excited thinking that Gordon-Levitt could turn into someone to keep your eye on not just as an actor but as a writer and director.

Hilarious and fearless!

[Sabrisabel · 7/10 · 2 October 2013]

I am a Joseph Gordon Levitt die-hard fan now. It's hard to believe that someone so young is this talented. He wrote the script, directs the movie, stars in it, and does a fantastic job at all of those. This movie was absolutely hilarious! I have not laughed this hard since The Hangover. Don Jon portrays the effect of media in normal romantic life.

One character is addicted to porn while the other is hopelessly expecting her life to be one of her adored romantic films. This movie delights in mocking regular romantic comedies and their worn-out recipe. There is even a sad version of one starring Channing Tatum and Anne Hathaway within the film.

This film was realistic and fearless, humorous to the point of drink-spitting, originally well executed and very well cast. Audiences will be surprisingly pleased and eagerly awaiting more from JGL as a writer/director/actor combo.

An important message about addiction

[fewald139 · 7/10 · 6 November 2021]

With the ever-prevalent rise and availability of internet porn, more and more men are experiencing erectile dysfunction, relationship dysfunction, and the consequences of addiction far worse and far younger than ever before. Don Jon confronts the realities of porn addiction on the young male mind. While it does not delve into the more severe side effects of porn addiction (like PIED), it does have an important message to convey and does it quite well.

Joseph Gordon Levitt plays Don Jon (and directs), a deplorable man living in New Jersey. Don Jon has the cringeworthy qualities of modern day pick-up artists: he is unchaste, disrespectful of the women he watches and meets in real life, and views sex as a wholly selfish endeavor (expects oral, does not like to give it). His friend group refers to women as numbers (she's an 8), "things" (using words like "it"), or disrespectful nicknames ("ponytail"). When Jon meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), he falls in love with what he calls "the most beautiful 'thing' I've ever seen." Barbara expects more of her men: she expects to be wooed, doesn't sleep with him right away, and flips out when she catches him watching porn. Barbara herself is not without her flaws; most of all, she is certainly naive, expecting a selfish dude-bro like Jon to respect monogamy being one mind-boggling assumption she makes.

Don Jon explores more than just porn addiction; it also explores nature v. Nurture. Jon himself claims his addiction is normal for men (obviously believing it to be in his nature), but we see glimpses of his home life (where his father continuously disrespects women in front of his wife) and friend circle (where his friends are incapable of treating women like people rather than objects to be conquered). Don Jon also hints at Barbara being conditioned to want the "perfect" relationship based on her obsession with romance movies, which few men (but in particular someone like Jon) could hope to compete with. When Esther (Julianne Moore) character comes into the focus of the story, the movie's once unlikable protagonist finally begins to see hope. Esther is arguably the most important character of all, helping Jon to realize his porn addiction is the main source of his poor sexual performance, and helping him mature from a porn-sick little boy into a man with some amount of promise.

While Don Jon covers a lot of territory and themes that most movies wouldn't dare touch, it doesn't quite make any daring or definitive conclusions. It also manages to be triggering to the same audience it is trying to reach. I am a former porn addict myself, and there are enough flashes of what appears to be actual porn in the film that could threaten the sobriety of any current or former addict. Be warned! Otherwise, Don Jon is a fairly good drama (I would not call it romantic or a comedy by any stretch of the imagination given its serious and bleak themes) about the addiction that is the least spoken about in modern society, and I recommend it to current addicts or the victims of addicts.

A dirty-minded comedy from a very likable actor.

[Christian_Dimartino · 7/10 · 27 September 2013]

When you picture Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his overly impressive resume, the last thing you picture is him as a porn addict. This fact is just part of what makes his latest movie, Don Jon, a total blast. Don Jon, in which Gordon-Levitt wrote and directed himself, places the actor out of his comfort zone, which is just one reason to see it. Another is because, well, it is a damn good movie.

Gordon-Levitt plays the title character. Jon is a muscular pervert, basically. he sleeps with plenty of women, but yet he doesn't get enough pleasure out of it. He actually gets far more pleasure from watching porn. So, watching porn is exactly what he does. When Jon meets his dream girl (Scarlett Johansson, looking as gorgeous as she always does), he even then can't move past the porn.

That is the movie, in summary form. But there is plenty more to it than that. JGL has written a hell of a script. Don Jon starts off as a dirty comedy, and slowly transforms into a film with a purpose. I like a movie like that. I like a movie where it ends in the complete opposite way it began.

Don Jon is the one unpredictable movie, and proud of it. JGL doesn't want to succumb to the Hollywood cliché. He has written a genuinely funny script here, and for the audience, it is hard to believe he had this kind of movie lined up. This is a movie with a dirt mind, but yet it has quite a bit of heart. That said, this is one of the stranger comedies in recent years.

Also, everyone nails their roles. JGL is excellent, but he isn't the only one who succeeds. Tony Danza, yes, Tony Danza, is terrific as Jon's dad. Also excellent is Julianne Moore (well, I think that went without saying) as a lonely woman who attends night school with Jon. Top notch acting all around.

I feel like I give a 9/10 a lot, but I just can't seem to find anything 10 or 8 worthy. I apologize. But Don Jon deserves it. Is it a great movie? Not quite. You feel as if the movie should go on and on, and whenever it is over, it just doesn't feel quite right. It is not like the ending is bad, but it is just a little abrupt. JGL has made a very good movie, and I am looking forward to whatever he brings out next.

A-

It's content will alienate people, and the story lacks cohesiveness, but Don Jon is pure, poignant social satire

[Joe_Chadowski · 6/10 · 29 September 2013]

Halfway through Don Jon, the point of its madness all hit me; this is the Easy Rider (1969) of Generation Y. To explain, Don Jon is pure social satire. Joseph Gordon "The Situation" Levitt's directing debut is a mirror into what our generation is. Not what's wrong or right with it, just a mirror. And like the reflection in said proverbial mirror, you either like what you see, or don't.

Jon, nicknamed "The Don" due to his skill of always picking up at least 8's every night, meets and subsequently falls in love with the girl of his dreams. He then must come to terms with his routine-infested little life, the superfluous B.S. that comes with having a relationship these days and, oh right, his porn addiction. I suppose it goes without saying that there is gratuitous explicit dialogue and pornographic clips intertwined into the story.

Don Jon is visually exceptional and expediently acted. It's editing is off the Richter scale and its comedy is as tongue-in-cheek as it gets. Don Jon pings and fizzes with energy and feels positively alive. For that, Don Jon gets two stars. And one bonus star for being truly original, both in its seismic delivery and its tenacity.

There's a clear sense that Don Jon has been honed for people that love film, in that it's singular purpose is to inspire thought and discussion. It's message is 100% subjective. Unfortunately, and perhaps in and effort to highlight its point as a satire, Don Jon has a story with all the cohesion and structure of balsa wood. There is no background, buildup, climax, or falling action. Don Jon fails on the premise of basic storytelling. And that is unforgivable.

Make no mistake, this movie WILL be looked upon years from now as a concealed insight to our psyche. I know this may sound excessive, given this movie's La-De-La approach, but look past what's on the surface…. And you'll be looking at us. You may just not know it yet.

A powerful insight into the modern day mans psyche towards women and relationships

[joshh2007 · 8/10 · 11 November 2013]

The first half hour of this film makes you feel quite uncomfortable, I saw a pre-screening with my girlfriend and It made me feel a little tense as I wasn't able to gauge how she was perceiving what she was watching.

There are a lot of sexually orientated scenes, cut scenes from porn movies, scenes of our protagonist Jon getting off with a hell of a lot of women. Scarlett Johansson's arrival doesn't slow any of this down, despite her being cast in the archetypical female role. That being the girl Jon is going to give up his wicked ways for. I won't spoil how this ultimately pans out. Around this point the humour kicks in and I must say there are quite a few laugh out loud scenes. Jon's relationship with his family in particular and just his strange character in general provide a good comedic vibe.

This film will not be for everybody. Those faint hearted souls who wont be able to stand anything more offensive than the solitary use of the F word, well you guys should certainly pass this by. Overall the F word is used in excess of 120 times in this picture for starters. For me, as the film plays out the sexual cut scenes begin to have more substance. They start to mean more than just the showing of perverse acts, I believe what JGL was trying to show was an insight into how modern day men perceive women and relationships. How expectations are raised by pornography and advertising to create an image that will never be fulfilled in normal life.

In some ways the film ends a bit of a damp squib, despite being an enjoyable ride there is somehow a lack of conviction in the ending. Our 'hero' does see the error of his ways, but it could have been done more convincingly in my opinion. All in all though this is a solid directorial debut from JGL, there seems to be a real pace about the film from beginning to end. The way the dialogue is delivered and the temperament of the characters keeps things running steady and keeps you hooked.

Definite recommendation from me.

Though marketed as a comedy, it does better when it puts the comedy aside and tries to really analyze things.

[Amari-Sali · 7/10 · 7 October 2013]

If you are one of the few who haven't been force fed a Don Jon commercial, advertisement or trailer in recent months, I'm pretty sure the NSA probably doesn't know where you are. With that said though, it is hard to not be interested with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson and even Tony Danza, who hasn't really been in much as of late, in the movie. Also, considering this is Gordon-Levitt's first go at writing and directing a feature film, there is also that added bit of intrigue.

Now, something you'll notice about Don Jon is that most characters feel like a slight stereotype, especially those in Jon's family. Jon (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has the makings of a stereotypical Jersey Italian who easily could have been part of the Jersey Shore show. He is aggressive, likes keeping things prim and proper, sees himself as a ladies man, and yet seems like the life he lives isn't the most satisfying. I mean, perhaps it is his porn addiction doing him in or maybe the fact he hasn't found the right one, supposedly?

So, enter Barbara (played by Scarlett Johansson), who unfortunately is sporting a ridiculous Italian-like accent as Gordon-Levitt. With her, we begin to really see past what the trailer has us focus on in terms of Jon being into his pad, his body, his ride, his church, his family, his girls, and his porn. With her entering in the film, we begin to realize that the porn probably is the most important thing to him to the point where it has basically shaped his view of women. He isn't alone though, Barbara also has an issue, but rather than it be porn, it is with romance movies. So, while Jon has a unrealistic, and as Esther (played by Julianne Moore) says, a one sided view of sex and relationships, Barbara has the same issue. But, what got her is the way romance films, and probably Disney films when she was a kid, have affected how she views sex and relationships.

The film as a whole though doesn't really try to analyze male culture in terms of how pornography has a psychological affect on men's mind, nor how romance movies create an unrealistic expectation of women's minds, if anything it is just a comedy which sort of evolves. The beginning of the movie is very comical, though not in a way where the jokes are setup to hit you hard like The Heat or This Is The End. The film instead has the type of comedy which won't get the whole theater roaring with laughter, but will make a handful laugh. Which isn't a big problem for the story stays pretty consistent, in terms of entertaining you and though Gordon-Levitt hasn't always had the best track record when playing a lead character, you can see he is really starting to gain a confidence and charm which could easily put him in the position of being a go-to for film directors.

I have to say though, the transition in this film from it being a light comedy to it beginning to analyze Jon as a character was a little rough at first, if just because Esther was the catalyst for this and she didn't smoothly come in, but sort of barged her way in. Once you get used to her though, she is alright, even though she had something really dramatic happen to her which doesn't necessarily make you feel sorry for her, but some sort of awkward. Also, I wasn't fond of how many times the movie decided to do these flashing scenes, not of bodies, where it would literally blind you for a good few seconds and I'm sure staring at the screen could give some people a seizure. And lastly, I must note, I am not sure why they gave Brie Larson such a small and strange role in this film. She for nearly the entire film is on her phone, delivers one line which presents the whole idea that Barbara has the whole princess in a fairy tale issue, and that is it. I mean, perhaps her being on the phone all the time was supposed to be a running gag, but it wasn't that funny.

Overall: Worth Seeing

I would not say to run out and see the film immediately. Truth be told, I only counted about 13 laughs through the movie, and none of them were the type I couldn't hold back. They were just little chuckles. But, set aside the expectation for a comedy and you really have an interesting film. Though it presents itself like every other romantic comedy in terms of the guy meeting the girl, falling in love, breakup at climax and reconciliation, it diverts from this and even pokes fun at it a bit. And what I like the most is it approaches the idea of trying to understand how and why a person goes monogamous, without looking at it from the "It is time for me to settle down" route. Instead, it focuses on how porn and romance movies shape our expectations and how those expectations have influence on what we seek out. Jon is looking for a girl who wants to have sex like a porn star and Barbara is looking for the guy marketed to girls in romance movies. Both are sort of in lala land and Esther helps save Jon from keeping up his routine by helping him understand the difference from the difference between how they have sex in porn to what it is to make love to a woman. It all is fascinating stuff and that is why I think the film is worth seeing.

Dull and Boring

[kotsysdesigns · 1/10 · 6 October 2013]

Let me preface by saying that I am in no way turned off by vulgarity in any form. The fact that this film was filled with curse words and pornographic clips did not affect me in any way. This movie was simply brutal and not funny.

I lasted through 45 minutes of it until I had enough and left the movie theater. Not once during this film did I even chuckle. The humor in this movie boils down to: recycled "bro" jokes, rehashed "guido"/"Jersey Shore" humor, and audio/visual vulgarity.

Had this movie been the least bit funny, I would have lasted throughout the whole thing. This movie is not "brilliant", and completely fails to be funny in any way, shape, or form. I appreciate films for being done well from technical aspects (It was part of my major at college), but this movie was simply not funny and was entirely too repetitive.

If you want to stare at Scarlet Johansson or see boobs, just stay at home and look at porn by yourself. I wish I could get my money & my Saturday night back.

Detached

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 12 August 2013]

Joseph Gordon Levitt proves he can act and direct at the same time. Bringing Tony Danza back (in a different more extreme Dad role than most know him from) was a great move too. But the movie is all about JGL performance. In front and behind the camera, choosing how to cut a movie together that some might call pornography (though it isn't, it's a movie about addiction).

Sex addiction is something that people take very lightly, making fun of it most of the time. But it can be more serious than that. And Don Jon proves that in a very comical way. Where Michael Fassbender went on and played it like a drama (equally good at least in "Shame"), this movie is lighter in tone most of the time. Still having drama to sit through, but the comic moments, make this an easier film to watch. If you don't mind the sexual theme it has, you will get a powerful movie about the Downfalls of addiction

Yo Intenet Porn Can Be Addictive

[ikeybabe · 7/10 · 16 June 2014]

This was a good, solid entertaining movie about growing up. The start was rather annoying. I don't know why but it annoyed the hell out of me every time Don Jon tossed that balled up tissue in the trash. The clanking sound was all WRONG! Who did the sound effects? Tissue makes a soft swishy sound - not a loud clunky sound. So, that bothered me. And then the extreme Jersey accents were a bit of a pain too, but then I realized these were the stereotypical Jersey characters - oversexed, loud, self-absorbed young adults. *SPOILER ALERT* Jon thinks he's the typical guy who just happens to self-pleasure to Internet porn every day, multiple times during the day. Yo, you're addicted dude! It's not until he meets a pained older woman who teaches him that reality can be way better than the unreal digital fantasy. I liked the juxtaposition of religion too - no matter how much you've sinned recite a few holy phrases a few times and you're good to go. The acting was stellar, the script well-conceived and nicely paced and overall a really good movie. And, Rob Brown was terrific - his character was a solid friend to Don Jon. Lastly, I loved how Jon's sister, who didn't speak throughout the movie, relayed her emotions with these telling looks - until she finally speaks the truth! Nice job JGL.

Very shallow script

[brutalgeisha · 1/10 · 10 January 2014]

Just watched it. The idea of movie is OK, porn is not what to espect in real life etc. but the script and the characters are extremely shallow and stupid. Including the family of the main actor in the movie. The only character that shows some kind of a more in-depth is Julian Moores character but she is only present in 15min of the whole movie. The friends of a dude are idiots too. To sumarize, the author took more of a statement "porn is not what to expect in real life" than an idea and it could be shown in 10min. The main characters, friends and family have an IQ of 90, even if its trying to be caricatured it is bad. I know people in real life that resembles the stupidity of main character and his girlfriend, but everything in this movie is so shallow and superficial. I have seen movies with score lower than 6 that are better than this 7.2 crap, and I give it a 4, but acctualy I give it 1 to lower the far overrated 7.2 score.

On directing and camera I have absolutely no remarks, Levitt obviously learned a lot from directors of movies and series he was in before. But script and profiling of characters, total fail.

Also the movie characters reminded me on movie Idiocracy http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2 which is kinda what the world is becoming more and more every day, just look at the scores of this movie...