Quinn Shephard's "Not Okay" specifically states that it features "flashing lights, trauma-related themes, and an unlikeable female protagonist,"
although this is only partially true. The newest movie from the director of "Blame" tries to analyse how social media accepts and
even warps victim narratives through the narrative of Danni Sanders (Zoey Deutch), an Insta-Wannabe who slips into a deep pit of lies surrounding an international calamity.
Danni makes unlikable (and occasionally absurd) decisions, but Shephard doesn't seem inclined to act on that advice, which limits some of the satire potential of this weird tale.
In the end, it's a good dramedy with Deutch and the fast-rising star Mia Isaac giving strong performances (she was also excellent in the most recent "Don't Make Me Go"),
But instead of raising important issues like why individuals lie to gain recognition or
how we turn victims of horrific violence into superstars, it is far too quick to make fun of easy targets.
Given that "Not Okay" starts after Danni Sanders has been exposed as a gigantic, immoral fraud, it is not a spoiler to
disclose that she becomes one of the most hated people in the world. When you think back on this opening,
where it seems like the entire internet despises Danni, you realise how bizarre it is that she subsequently claims she can
handle one or two Twitter bullies. Why did Danni Sanders just go through the most severe human cancellation?
Danni is reintroduced in the song "Not Okay" as the picture editor of the website Depravity, which has a catchy name that I would definitely check out.
The song skips back two months. One of the movie's funniest parts is when Danni first meets Susan, her boss, in which she laments the insignificant things in her life,
including missing 9/11 because she was on a cruise. She is so shallow that she has "FOMO for 9/11." Even before the plot of "Not Okay" really gets underway,
the character of Danni has already been established as a social media monster who can't tell the difference between sadness and happy because,
after all, both grow social followings, right? She was raised in a time when any term may be used on a social profile.
In the end, "Not Okay" is caught between character study and satire. Neither the former nor the latter are possible since it lacks the necessary realism.
Then, what is left? This particular movie has a much worse version with an actress that struggles to walk the tonal tightrope of this role.
Deutch puts on yet another razor-sharp performance. Please give me a little more to nibble on.