Dakota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno play best friends still learning about each other in the Sundance premiere comedy
Lucy (Dakota Johnson, The Lost Daughter) and Jane (Sonoya Mizuno, Crazy Rich Asians) have been best friends for years and know practically everything about each other. Lucy is an artist who is stuck (in more ways than one) and works at a spa. Jane is asked to open a London branch for her company. The night she shares her news with boyfriend Danny (Jermaine Fowler, Coming 2 America) and Lucy becomes one where long kept secrets come to light, including that Lucy is into women and unsure about how to deal with her feelings and attractions. Am I OK? explores Lucy’s self doubt and hesitation contrasted with Jane’s pushy nature, and how the women’s friendship is changed.
The film, directed by Stephanie Allynne and Tig Notaro, is ultimately a story of a friendship between women who start being honest with themselves. Lauren Pomerantz’s script, based on elements of her own life, has silly, laugh-out-loud moments. The BFF chemistry between Johnson and Mizuno is endearing and relatable; aspects of Lucy and Jane’s relationship reminded me of time spent with dear friends.
Johnson convincingly portrays the confusion and uncertainty Lucy is dealing with: her bafflement at her own feelings and what to do about them, her disbelief that her work crush Brittany (Kiersey Clemons, Hearts Beat Loud) might be attracted to her, and her embarrassment about not coming out until her thirties. Mizuno plays Jane as self-assured and certain, pressing on with plans for her move, even as things begin to fall apart.
The pacing moves smoothly in Allynne and Notaro’s film, as weeks pass by. Notaro even makes an appearance as a goofy leader of a hammock sanctuary. The soundtrack tunes chosen for Am I OK? especially hit home for this viewer — from Phoebe Bridgers to St. Vincent (Annie Clark co-wrote the score, as well) to random ’80s favorite “Tarzan Boy.” It adds up to a charming comedy that completely won me over.
