AM I OK? -- You Are Slightly Above Average

Review by Joseph Fayed

Queer cinema is all about expression. Some of the most acclaimed films in this genre tend to have their protagonists fall into two different subcategories. Either they are out and proud of who they are, they are confused about their own orientation, or they are not comfortable sharing who they are with the rest of the world. Am I OK? is a little bit of the latter two combined and tells a story of friendship in the face of it all that, if nothing else, is cute to watch. 

Lucy (Dakota Johnson) and Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) have been best friends for many years. They are both 32, but their lives couldn't be any more different. Jane is in a long-term relationship and has a successful job. Lucy has neither of those and realizes she may have had her sexual orientation all wrong from the start. As Lucy rethinks her life, she tells Jane about this development, who vows to be there for her. But when Jane receives a promotion at work, which requires her to move to London, their friendship is tested. The two must learn to cope with their own struggles without each other's help for the first time, which proves to be daunting for both of them. 

Coming-out stories have slowly morphed into more "coming to terms" stories, and that's the best way to describe this film. There's not much emphasis on Lucy coming out to Jane. She immediately accepts who she is, but her role serves as part of her support system. Lucy does not need additional validation from Jane for this reason, and because of that, both characters are allowed to develop beyond this on their own terms. 

The two friends naturally come into conflict, yet they are compelling to watch partly due to the great chemistry between Johnson and Mizuno. Both exhibit a tenderness that warms up the screen. When they are separated, especially during the second act, the absence of the other half is noticeable because most of the supporting characters struggle to find their purpose. This is more apparent in Jane's solo scenes as everything comes at her fast, both professionally and personally, and it is only a matter of time before it comes crashing down just for the sake of it without the appropriate setup. 

Dakota Johnson as Lucy proved to be a wise casting choice and a highlight. Nothing feels forced out of her, and her energy replicates the persona we've seen during interviews with her in the past well enough that it almost feels like she's playing herself, and it works. Lucy must branch out and she pursues a new love interest along the way. This is where sheer awkwardness and discomfort for Lucy begins, but doing it another way would have been too cheesy for a comedy. Lucy's storyline staying mostly predictable is an acceptable creative choice, partly due to Johnson not needing to out-act her peers. 

Am I OK? is the feature directorial debut of real-life lesbian couple Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, the latter of whom did not come out until she was roughly Lucy's age. Perhaps there were some bumps in the road along the way for Allynne, just like there was with Lucy. Lucy's journey is meant to be the most intriguing aspect of the film, but with tons of filler surrounding it, the most respect goes to Johnson and Mizuno for trying to salvage it as best as they can. The "Actually, that's not the truth, Ellen" meme from 2019 has turned Johnson into an honorary gay icon of sorts online, and now she gets to live that on the big screen — her impact. 

Am I OK? streams on Max beginning June 6.​

Rating: 3/5