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Don Jon: Gym, Porn, Church

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From the trailers one can tell that Jon of Don Jon is not a fan of happy ending rom-coms. So you know not to expect one in the directorial debut from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Don Jon tells the story of Jon Martello, a cocky boy from Jersey who is a bonafide porn addict that favors putting up a facade rather than dealing with the now. The character of Jon seems like he would be friends with the cast of Jersey Shore, but instead of GTL, for Jon it's GPC: gym, porn, church. Jon goes through life like a daily checklist as if he is programmed, which is shown through Gordon-Levitt's quick cut editing; even Jon's voice over narration is in control. Anytime something real (an actual woman in his bed, a comment from someone that he is not expecting, etc) is happening to Jon, that thought is juxtaposed with images of porn scenes which are going through Jon's mind. This doesn't change when Jon thinks he has met his match in Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson), a "10" who is also obsessed, but with the image of love. Barbara puts up barriers for Jon which he's not used to, yet he doesn't seem to challenge them because, after all, she's the prettiest girl he's ever met. Tony Danza is still the boss as Jon's equally-hotheaded, equally-biceped father. He's like Jake La Motta without the punch. Don Jon's family and friends are all Jersey stereotypes, with the exception of his sister Brie Larson (United States of Tara), who has but one line in the entire movie, although that one line just so happens to sum up Jon's entire existence. Julianne Moore is refreshing as a fellow student of Jon's. Grappling with her own emotions, she inadvertently analyzes Jon's approach to love, becoming the strong force lacking in his life. Don Jon delves into man's affliction with superficiality and persuasive projected acts of intimacy. Gordon-Levitt's screenplay is not one-sided, as the female character is fixated on fake imagery which also dictates her life. Don Jon is a genuine, at times funny, romantic drama that will confront viewers about their ideas of love and image. It's Marky Mark doing Woody Allen.          
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