This Jason Reitman film didn't find much enthusiasm amongst audiences or critics, despite a cast including Adam Sandler and Jennifer Garner, plus a "hot button" subject matter - namely, the influence of the internet on our lives.
It's a well made, solidly acted film, done with affection and skill - Reitman has a wonderful humanity about his movies. Some of it was so eerily spot on - the recreation of net life, the details - and there were a bunch of very impressive young actors, especially Kaitlyn Dever, plus beautiful music. I enjoyed it when watching it.
But thinking back on the movie, I admit I feel a little sordid or "yuck". I think because every internet-related aspect of the movie had some dodgy overtone - Adam Sandler looks up porn and escorts on the internet; his son looks up so much born he can't get it up when he gets the chance to bang the trashy cheerleader, Olivia Crocicchia, who is oversexualised due to the internet, who has warped ideas of fame due to the internet, and whose mother (Judy Greer) sells dodgy pictures of her on line; Sandler's wife, Rosemary De Witt, seeks out an affair on line; Jennifer Garner is so obsessed with daughter Dever getting in trouble on line she drives a wedge between them and almost causes a death; Ansel Elgort becomes so into a role playing game he can't function in the real world; Elena Kampouris is encouraged into bulimia by people on line. It's actually all quite bleak and down - the only real bright spot is the sweet romance between Elgort and Dever. So my memories of the film are mixed.
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