Porn rehab

Rating: 8/10 (17 September 2013)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been acting ever since he was a child, but the 32 year-old actor really made his mark last year by starring in such hits as Looper, Lincoln, and The Dark Knight Rises. Now you can add writer and director to his credits which expand upon the many talents of this young man. He wrote, directed, and stars in the upcoming film Don Jon, and he's not afraid to take on risky topics either.
He stars as Jon, who's known among his friends as "Don Jon" due to his Don Juan lothario-like lifestyle. Jon routinely looks for the hottest ladies in the club to bring home with him. His friends urge him on and encourage his sexual accomplishments. What they don't know, however, is that he's even more addicted to watching porn than having actual sex. Jon narrates portions of the film explaining how you can find the perfect fantasy to indulge in just by turning your computer on, and that no real-life encounter could ever quite measure up to the experience. So no matter how many women he may be successful in bringing home with him, they never quite leave him feeling completely satisfied.
But then one night at the club, Jon spots the ultimate "dime" – a perfect 10. Her name is Barbara Sugarman and she's played with extra spunk and sass by Scarlett Johansson. They instantly hit it off. And though Jon might be the ultimate player, he realizes this girl is relationship material because other women he sees just don't compare. Soon enough, they become a serious couple. OK, so he might be able to brush off other ladies but what about that addiction to porn? This brings up a number of concerns such as if watching women online is the same as cheating. And if attaining the ultimate catch in real life isn't enough, than what is? Some people are just never satisfied.
The cast is great, and Tony Danza is especially hilarious playing Jon's tank top wearing guido dad. Julianne Moore also has an interesting supporting role as an off-kilter friend who offers Jon some insight into other ways of looking at things. I thought it would be a distraction having Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson play characters who seem like they could have been on MTV's Jersey Shore (accents and all); but it actually works since people like this do exist and they're portrayed pretty accurately. The movie is an outstanding directorial debut for Gordon-Levitt who mixes comedy and drama with ease. It also manages to make some profound points regarding such taboo topics as sex and pornography. So definitely go see it. It opens on September 27. Just leave the kids at home.