FilmSnobReviews

Title: Not Okay
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Quinn Shephard
Starring: Zoey Deutch, Mia Isaac, Dylan O’Brien
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins

What It Is: Danni (Deutch) is largely ignored in her day to day life. She yearns for the attention of the viral generation. She wants so badly for Colin (O’Brien) to see her as the hot things walking and the loneliness of her existence, as it is now, will disappear. When the Paris bombing attack occurs she see this as her opportunity to make the most out of a lie she’s already told. But will her wrongdoing become uncovered?

What We Think: Zoey Deutch continues to thrive in these small independently produced projects. Even if they are of varying quality. There’s something about this one that sort of works and I think the main thing is Quinn Shephard. She firmly believes in this film and I mean she should since she wrote it. It’s more than that though it’s her youthful exuberance something also prevalent in her other venture behind the camera, Blame. From the way this is shot to the execution of the cinematography the whole film is soaked in Gen Z aesthetic. It mostly works, even if it’s somewhat irritating. This goes double for Dylan O’Brien’s outrageous turn here which is purposefully irritating. He does an amazing job here.

Our Grade: C+, It doesn’t do enough to win me over and I think you’ll feel the same. I have no problem with an unlikable protagonist. For me that makes their redemption angle all the better. Here though there’s really nothing likable about Danni. She’s manipulative and annoying but dammit if Zoey Deutch doesn’t kill it doing exactly those things. It’s an easy watch and easy to find so it might be worth throwing on if you’re bored. Outside of that. Skip it.