Film Review: AM I OK?: Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno Are Charming in Predictable Comedy [Sundance 2022]

Am I OK? Review

Am I OK? (2022) Film Review from the 44th Annual Sundance Film Festival, a movie directed by Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro and starring Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, Whitmer Thomas, Sean Hayes, Tig Notaro, Odessa A’zion, Patrick McDonald, Mayank Bhatter, Jess Nurse, Emma Pasarow, Rey Herrera, Christina Higa, James Hunter and Aly Jade.

Am I OK? is the type of romantic comedy that won’t keep you guessing too much as to where it’s ultimately headed. You’ll probably be able to predict the film’s ending about twenty minutes into the movie. Still, filmmakers Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro have crafted a fun film with a lot of positive energy about a woman in her 30’s coming to terms with her sexuality.

In the lead role is Dakota Johnson who is absolutely sublime in her role even if she seems miscast at times due to her strikingly gorgeous appearance. Am I OK? makes us genuinely like this woman even though she probably would not have much trouble dating in the real world. There are moments where her looks do make it a bit difficult to believe some of the things that happen to her. Still, directors Allynne and Notaro led me to just go with the film’s pleasantness and its sharp comic edge. I was surprised that I genuinely enjoyed watching it even though it was totally predictable.

Johnson is cast opposite Sonoya Mizuno and both female performers are well-paired and prove to have tremendous on-screen charisma that keep us watching and hoping that the movie will go where audience members should predict it will go. Johnson portrays Lucy, a would-be artist in L.A. who is best friends with Jane (Mizuno). Jane can always predict what Lucy will order for breakfast and right as the film opens, Lucy tries to whisper her order to the waitress so she doesn’t prove so easy to figure out to Jane.

While Lucy is dating a guy who she shakes hands with after each meeting and sees as just a friend, Jane’s boss (Sean Hayes) is on the verge of offering her a promotion which would entail her leaving the country to take on the new job. That would end up leaving Lucy behind. However, Jane is heading into this potential new life with her lover Danny (Jermaine Fowler). Lucy wants to find someone to connect with and soon realizes she is not all that attracted to men. In fact, she pretty much isn’t into men at all.

Lucy, after displaying shyness about her newfound sexual preference, starts dating a girl named Brittany (Kiersey Clemons) who seems to just want a fling. Lucy would like to find something substantial. This movie takes us on a journey where Lucy will begin to date and the film shows the audience all the discoveries Lucy makes about herself which ultimately tests her friendship with Jane.

What is the most appealing about this film is the way Lucy and Jane play off what each other says. There is some crisp dialogue thanks to screenwriter Lauren Pomerantz that rings true and the friendship created in the script is expertly acted out by Johnson and Mizuno who are two actresses with charm to spare. I liked the series of online dates that Lucy goes out with and, surprisingly, they all don’t turn out to be complete losers. But, these women just aren’t for Lucy.

Also particularly enjoyable about Am I OK? is the way the movie portrays the friendship between the two leads. When one of their birthdays ends up approaching, it marks the perfect way for them to make up after a major fight that they have. Will everything work out the way it seems with Jane leaving the country with Danny which would leave Lucy to fend for herself? You’ll have to see the movie to find out.

Dakota Johnson has truly grown as an actress even if she’s starring in a light-as-air comedy such as this one. She makes us believe her character’s actions in many scenes despite her beauty and her interaction with the supporting cast is tremendously fun for the viewer to enjoy throughout. The real revelation though is Sonoya Mizuno who officially breaks into Hollywood big-time with the terrific work she displays in the film. She’s witty and energetic and every scene she’s in is just plain entertaining to watch.

Tig Notaro has always been a talented comic actress and her direction along with Stephanie Allynne makes the movie work despite its predictability. A same-sex romance needs to have authenticity and besides the fact that I sometimes thought Johnson was too good-looking for the role, the situations the characters find themselves in can often feel realistic.

Again, I also had a problem with this film that I’ve had with a couple of movies at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The men here are pretty much written off as losers. Well at least the main male characters anyway. I think you can have a female empowerment movie that features strong male characters as well. Lucy’s date from the opening scenes of the film turns out to be a wimp and Danny turns out to be a jerk. I think when a movie focuses in on female characters who find that they don’t need men to be happy that you can still provide realistic male characters who aren’t totally unsympathetic or naive. But, never mind.

Am I OK? still stands as a really good time despite its flaws and Dakota Johnson is truly on a roll these days with this film coming so soon after the terrific Cha Cha Real Smooth. Sonoya Mizuno, like Johnson, is a natural born movie star and this is a fun romantic comedy with plenty of entertainment value to be found throughout the picture. It’s well worth seeking out.

Rating: 7/10

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