Am I Okay? Review
By Sioph W. Leal
Lucy (Dakota Johnson) and Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) have been best friends for most of their lives, and now in their thirties, their lives are about to change. Jane gets a promotion and announces she is moving to London, while Lucy reveals a long-held secret: that she’s gay. Their close friendship is thrown into chaos as both try to discover things about them that they’ve buried or not had time to confront.
It's a coming-of-age story for those who discover or accept things about themselves later in life—a refreshing take on the genre in which Johnson uses her awkward yet charming demeanour to make a realistic performance full of heart. Typically, these stories come with a protagonist in their teens, but it’s nice to see this happen to an adult and that it doesn’t judge or blame anyone for the late discoveries and acceptances in life; instead, it celebrates them and the awkwardness that comes from it.
Even though the main plot is Lucy discovering herself and her sexuality, the focus is not on getting Lucy a romantic partner, something many other films would focus on, but instead choosing to focus on Lucy’s internal conflict. When she comes out at the beginning of the film, it doesn’t have a moment of clarity but rather more awkwardness from her personal struggles deep inside her. There is an abundance of support from her friend, with no judgement and not even a hint of homophobia, which creates a positive atmosphere despite the natural awkwardness. Just because she comes out does not make her life any easier, but she is more open to exploring it and exploring her crush on co-worker Brittany (Kiersey Clemons), even if it results in a one-night stand with one wanting to explore more and the other not. It’s awkward, but charmingly so. Instead of seeing Lucy flail, we see her become more independent and creative, allowing herself to be passionate about the things she’s kept hidden. It’s almost as if when she accepts her sexuality, she accepts herself and allows herself to explore all her interests. It’s a journey of self-discovery, but realistic and with the right amount of awkwardness that Johnson naturally uses to make Lucy relatable and interesting to watch.
At its heart, it is a tale of female friendship and acceptance. When Lucy does come out, Jane does everything she can to encourage Lucy out of her shell, but it is their bond that is the emotional centre of the film. Johnson and Mizuno have great chemistry and a believable friendship that comes across on the screen, with a lot of charm and genuine charisma between the two. Their relationship is realistic and captures you instantly, making you believe they’ve been friends for a long time instead of cast mates. When they have a conflict with each other, you feel it and root for their eventual reunion, even though we see them change and grow outside of each other.
The strength of this movie is that it is realistic, and all the characters feel fleshed out and genuine, with a clear love from the cast and crew that comes off beautifully. However, the abrupt, moody turn feels sudden and out of place. It does give the chance to see the two friends independent of each other as they both discover things about themselves, but it comes off as strangely placed and forced. The resolution is fine, but it all ends fast with Lucy suddenly deciding to move to London, which comes off as an odd choice not fitting with the rest of the movie and makes it unclear if it is the characters dry wit coming through or if she is serious.
Aside from the main premise, there is nothing new added to the genre that stands out, and there is no nuance to the characters or plot, but that’s okay. The film's heart is in being realistic and allowing the characters and audience to see self-reflection, with the message that it's never too late to carry through. It’s a movie that feels comforting and relatable, and it's a joy to watch.
Am I Ok? premiers June 6, 2024