Review: Not Okay

Director Quinn Shephard’s new satirical comedy, Not Okay, follows Danni Sanders (Zoey Deutch), a young woman desperate to make something of herself on the internet. After pretending to attend a writer’s retreat in Paris, Danni mistakenly winds up convincing her followers that she is the survivor of a tragic attack on the city. The lie spirals, skyrocketing Danni’s online career until there is no turning back. She must reap what she has sewn, and face the consequences of her actions.

Deutch’s portrayal of Danni is innately unlikeable, but in the best possible way

Throughout Not Okay, we see glimmers of hope in the girl. The possibility for redemption in taking back her lies is right there, but Deutch cuts through this with a show of painful self-importance and self-gratification that leaves audiences praying on Danni’s eventual downfall. Colin (Dylan O’Brien) is similarly detestable. O’Brien stands out for how tragically real his character is. Everyone knows a Colin: the type of guy who is entirely detached from the world around him, sporting arrogance and egotism as his dominant character traits. Danni’s obsession with getting Colin to acknowledge her is relatable at first, yet the lengths to which she goes to are simply pathetic. You don’t know whether to pity her or hate her, so you end up doing both.

It is worth keeping in mind that Not Okay is a black comedy. The character of Rowan Aldren (Mia Isaac) is a consistent reminder throughout the narrative of the dark themes that it inhabits, proving to audiences that we cannot root for Danni in her pursuit of fame and fortune. Danni’s performative activism is cut through by Rowan’s tragic back story and authentic experience, enhancing how manipulative and inappropriate Danni’s lies truly are. It is difficult to watch her endeavours as she manifests her own words: ‘have you ever wanted to be noticed so badly, you didn’t even care what it was for?’.

I found myself cringing the most at her insensitive responses at the support group. Danni is entirely isolated from the pain and suffering that is intertwined with the events that she exploits, finding success in the tragedies of those around her.

Not Okay stands out in terms of the aesthetic choices made by Costume Designer Sarah Laux. Danni represents a certain corner of Gen-Z who mimic fast fashion micro-trends that are pushed by creators on TikTok and Instagram. This disposable attitude towards her appearance mirrors Danni’s careless attitudes towards those around her; she presents what the world wants to see, rather than seeking any form of self-expression in her online presence.

Mia Isaac is a true breakout star this summer, not only featuring in Not Okay, but also in the highly anticipated Don’t Make Me Go (2022). Her highly emotive and powerful character is a breath of fresh air against the inauthenticity of Danni and Colin. Wise beyond her years, Rowan is the voice of a generation that Danni could only dream of becoming. She embodies everything that Danni hijacked, presenting a delicate yet visceral performance that sticks in your mind well after the end credits.

I felt slightly underwhelmed by how Not Okay tackled some of its harder-hitting themes

I felt slightly underwhelmed by how Not Okay tackled some of its harder-hitting themes. We see, in great detail, Danni’s imagined responses to the attack on Paris, but we never learn the true extent of the pain and suffering that she is exploiting. The fact that Danni is the only voice of the survivors does enhance how atrocious her behaviour is, however, we miss any chance to see how her lies affected real survivors of the events. Danni should not be allowed to escape the people that she has used for personal gain. Their absence felt like a missed opportunity to hammer home how ashamed she should be.

Verdict

To me, it feels like Not Okay is a rare instance of capturing influencer culture in a fairly accurate light, while managing to not feel 10 years behind the times. Deutch treads the line between carefree young adult and insufferable caricature carefully through her portrayal of Danni, pushing the boundaries of what is socially acceptable, yet her performance never feels unreal. Deutch leads the film with ease, creating a character whose downfall will be hard to forget.