To find out about Max: Dakota Johnson in disturbing comedy-drama about a completely lost millennial

What is it about?

An awkward woman discovers her attraction to women with the help of her best friend…

I’m ok? Directed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allin, written by Lauren Pomeranz with Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler…

what am i ok

Good comedy-drama, Am I OK? is the first production of the couple Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allin. We find Dakota Johnson in particularly dazzling form. The often-underrated actress plays Lucy, a thirtysomething from Los Angeles who discovers that the main reason for her bad luck with men is that she is, in fact, a lesbian.

It doesn’t really surprise him; A part of him had always known this. But as the years pass and he gets stuck in his habits, he finally accepts his homosexuality and stops seeing it as a disadvantage.

I’m ok? This isn’t exactly a movie about millennial malaise. It’s more of a coming-of-age story, like Lena Dunham did so well a few years ago with her series, Girls. Like this series about a group of young graduates who gradually discover the horrors of adulthood, Am I OK? There is also a female friendship check.

More or less a romantic comedy

Notaro and Ali’s gamble, however, is to disguise the film as a romantic comedy. A bit like its protagonist, who seems to have struggled with his identity over the years, the film plays with the codes between dramatic comedy and romantic comedy. We discover a willfully passive Lucy as she explores life, seemingly unconcerned that she’s never known true love, but subtly desperate to find it.

We first meet her as being in a relationship with a fairly ordinary young man, to whose timid advances she reacts by falling out of bed, wine in hand. This unpretentious little film is the perfect showcase for Dakota Johnson’s comedic talents. In “Am I Okay?”, he acts like a slightly retarded teenager; Lucy is constantly sitting in her chair, doesn’t seem to know how to wear an elegant dress, and clearly suffers from an addiction to her phone.

His best friend is Jane, played by Sonoya Mizuno (currently in Dragon House). And Lucy’s troubled life is turned upside down when one day Jane tells her that she has accepted a prestigious position in London. The conversation they have that day shows what kind of movie it is. I’m ok? Of course, Lucy will meet someone and start a whirlwind romance, but first and foremost this is a romantic comedy about two best friends.

Are millennials losing their minds?

Although Lucy initially pretends to be happy for Jane, it doesn’t take long for her to fall apart. More discord ensues as Jane grows closer to the co-worker. It feels like cheating – especially with someone who Lucy openly despises.

During their big argument—which is worth a breakup scene—they know exactly which weapon to draw and when to hurt. Their friendship really serves as a pillar in their lives, which crumbles a little when they get angry. It’s the kind of movie you’d normally expect to see with teenagers, but it’s interesting to see Tig Notaro and Stephanie Ally’s take on millennials who never quite come of age.

If the director doesn’t really grab the attention, the screenplay – written by Lauren Pomeranz based on her own experience – can deftly dance between casual humor and heartfelt emotion. It’s a difficult balancing act, but Johnson’s charming performance helps Lucy navigate the maze of emotions without feeling like things are too heavy. It’s not that she can’t embody tragedy — she did it so well in “The Lost Daughter” — but it’s not about doing it.

In the end, it’s just about a generation that’s a bit lost between two others that have nothing to do with each other. If it seems anecdotal at first, this notion emerges over time.

I’m ok? Currently available at Max.