'Don Jon', Released Today, Praised Highly By Critics

Don Jon, ahead of its US release today (27th September), has received positive reviews despites its graphic and somewhat controversial topic.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt at the New York premiere of Don Jon.

Don Jon explores the dangers of internet porn addiction, specifically how it helps develop "unrealistic expectations." Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper) stars as Jon Martello, renowned amongst his friend for his promiscuous and 'Don Jon' like behaviour, being able to attract a different woman every weekend. Sadly for Martello he is unable to find fulfilment owing to his obsession with internet pornography. When he meets Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson) - a woman who yearns for old fashioned romance- their cultures and expectations collide. Gordon-Levitt has written and directed the comedy which has received positive reviews. Supporting Gordon- Levitt and Johansson, in this surprising comedy are Julianne Moore (The Hours), Tony Danza (Crash) and a host of other US actors. 

Don Jon premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and is released in US cinemas today (27th September). Reviews ahead of the US release have been favourable, although some have balked at the film's main theme. Joe Morgenstern, of the Wall Street Journal, wrote Don Jon was merely "an overheated disquisition on the pleasures and limitations of masturbation."

Watch the movie trailer for Don Jon:

However, other critics have praised the film for being honest and direct about such issues. One example of this is the San Francisco Chronicle's Mick LaSalle who wrote "Don Jon deserves praise for wearing its message lightly and yet for daring to present such a lecture in today's Internet-drenched environment."

Beyond the initial theme, other critics have praised the movie for being a "fine feature directing debut" which "shapes into a story about a young man's moral education" (Manohla Dargis of The New York Times). Nor does Don Jon just deal with a male's perspective on the use of internet porn; allowing, as the NY Times critic stated it is possible to "maintain the sympathy [for Jon Martello] of both men and women."

Scarlett Johansson at the Don Jon premiere.

Furthermore, it appears the film addressing such a controversial issue as internet porn has not degraded the entertaining quality of the movie. This is echoed by Stephanie Merry of the Washington Post who wrote Don Jon makes "the audience laugh, getting viewers invested and even breaking our hearts in just 90 minutes." 

Don Jon is released today in the US and on November 15th in the UK.

Tony Danza at the premiere of Don Jon.