‘Am I OK?’ movie review: Dakota Johnson brings a delicate, strangely queer drama about friendship

Dakota Johnson ‘Am I OK?’

Led by Dakota Johnson Am I okay?, Like its protagonist, this is a late bloomer. It first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022, but is now coming to audiences, more than two years later. Set in the sunny days of Los Angeles, the film tells the story of Lucy (Dakota), who is taking a while to come to terms with her sexuality. Her vulnerable journey of self-discovery is also underscored by her long-standing friendship with Jane (Sonoya Mizuno), which seems to be falling apart.

As Lucy, Dakota Johnson brings to life the film’s awkward aspects, which reflect Tig Notaro and Stephanie Ellen’s directing style. Lucy is clumsy compared to her athletic best friend Jane, and admittedly she’s reluctant to step out of the comfort zone she’s created for herself. But even within the cocoon of her confined life, which is otherwise marked by a monotonous job, as Jane explains: Lucy isn’t even comfortable within herself His comfort zone.

At 32, when everyone around her is putting down roots, Lucy’s life lacks any defined dimension. She has never been in a relationship for more than a few months, and the news that Jane is moving to London with her boyfriend brings these feelings to the surface.

In one of the best moments in the film, she tearfully admits to Jane that she may be attracted to women, and that despite feeling this way for some time, she hasn’t acted on it. Jane consoles her, saying that this isn’t surprising for someone who has seen Lucy drive around in her Volvo. It’s a scene filled with many emotions, and is shown quite early in the film.

Dakota Johnson ‘Am I OK?’

A comforting conversation with a friend, but also a heartbreaking reckoning for Lucy – there are many such moments in the film that are directed with a restrained hand, but maintain the narrative tenor of a late gay bloomer. Undoubtedly, the film’s weight is carried by its screenplay, which Lauren Pomerantz wrote based on her own experiences. Pomerantz expands the film’s canvas to include a multitude of growing pains, and seamlessly blends Lucy’s coming of age with the maturing of her and Jane’s friendship.

With supporting performances from Kiersey Clemons and Molly Gordon, the film ultimately finds its heart in the chemistry between Dakota and Sonoya. Portraying polar opposites, they succeed in conveying the years of history between them, and how they’ve seen each other grow. Later, when Lucy’s tendency to avoid change collides with Jane’s insistence on giving her a girlfriend, their friendship suffers some serious cracks; Pomerantz’s skill in handling this rollercoaster of emotions is what drives the film home.

In just under 90 minutes, Am I okay? endsIt ends up feeling a lot like what it was set out to portray: meandering, recurring thoughts about the future that weigh down the present, but are lightened with the help of a few trusted friends.