Written by Lauren Pomerantz and directed by Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro, Am I OK? is the kind of story we rarely see with characters in their 30s. It happens occasionally with coming-of-age narratives, but this demographic is just as imperative and poignant. It’s a character journey from beginning to end, leaving the audience with a timeless message that it’s never too late to learn more about oneself while we continue to discover what we want to do and who we want to be with.
Dakota Johnson is made for roles with nuance and depth, bringing her incredible range as an actress to the forefront in a glowing performance. It’s something we also see in Cha Cha Real Smooth, so it’s a scope I can’t wait to see more of in Celine Song’s Materialists. In every frame, she’s mesmerizing, bold, vulnerable, and effortlessly hilarious, making her character Lucy, memorable and unique.
Nevertheless, Am I OK? would’ve been far brighter and more gorgeously encompassing as a film if we had seen a bit more romance between Lucy and a woman whom we could see her fall for. The moments we get between Lucy and Kiersey Clemons’ Brittany are lovely, but the lack of a true romance between them makes the film a bit incomplete. Given the film’s actual ending, it’s understandable why we don’t see more of a romance between the two, but still. As endearing as the love letter between friends is, Am I OK? and the journey of discovering one’s sexuality also deserves a happy conclusion because it’s unfortunately so rare to see happy LGBTQ+ stories on our screens without added trauma and heartache.
More than anything, however, even without the romance, Am I OK? is worth watching for how it underscores the encompassing longevity and importance of friendship between Johnson’s Lucy and Sonoya Mizuno’s Jane. With the compelling performances, we get every bit of their familiarity and comfort with one another, understanding exactly why they’re so close, why it’s so easy for them to fall out for a beat, and why they make decisions for each other without a second thought. Thus, the final scene makes total sense when they’re the love story the film centers around, telling a thought-provoking story with friends, which is also rare in Hollywood. Leslie Knope and Ann Perkins would be proud of these, too. They really would.
Am I OK? isn’t a perfect film, nor is it one that I would go out of my way to watch again, but it’s a delightful story regardless and largely because of the performances. It bears repeating that Johnson is a true star, and so much of the reason the film succeeds is because of her. The joint directing provides intricate and juxtaposing imagery that almost reveals two different sides of character journeys, which thus also makes the film riveting when it comes to the initial vision.
It’s rich in vulnerability, allowing the moments of heartache and uncertainties to feel even more visceral and beautifully crafted to be relatable to viewers. There’s so much empathy and warmth sprinkled into the dialogue that it’s a breath of fresh air.
Am I OK? is now streaming on Max.
First Featured Image | Official Poster Credit: ©Warner Bros.