Don's Johnson

Rating: 6/10 (18 January 2014)

I love the promotional poster that includes, in big caps: STELLAR, HILARIOUS, GENUINE, EMOTIONAL, EDGY and CONFIDENT. Hey, Don Jon! Did you and I see the same movie?
Absolutely this movie was not bad and a tad original – I said "a tad!" – but it wasn't worth all the praise it put on its own poster. It's a very basic story of addiction but not groundbreaking, especially in its "recovery" phase.
Jon, Don Jon, is addicted to online porn. While not alone – say, 5% of American adults haven't partook with said pleasures, he can't get enough, which, I guess, puts him squarely in the 80% truly addicted to it. This is not to say Jon doesn't have a (night) life as he does also partake in the females at the local discotheque.
After years of banging both the human form and the hand-held kind, he does settle down with a "9" in the form of Scarlet Johansson. But, is she enough to rid him of his "problem at hand?" Or will the older, wiser and higher co-student of his get him to remember life after (on)line?
The movie attempts to shock and splash multiples of porn images on the screen. For anyone over, say 14, none of this is new. Maybe not so much in a movie, but it's not shocking to most. But, it is funny and genuine at times. And I absolutely adored and loved Julianne Moore in this.
Ever since Hannibal, she's continued to un-impress me, sadly. This is not a great thing to say about her, because I know she's so much more. But, up until this, she's been in a downward spiral. Mercifully, while not perfect, she's definitely rebounded here and is absolutely worth watching this movie for.
Overall, it's a recommend, but only for those with open minds. For those who have any bit of a mind that's closed, or even ajar, stay away. Watch those G-rated Kirk Cameron films for "pleasure."
* * * Final thoughts: Joseph, who's been plenty better in other films, didn't do a bad job here and while not amateurish in direction, it wasn't up to what he could do. I look forward to seeing more from him.