With all of the fall semester stressors, the Collegiate staff decided to kick their feet up and relax by watching a new film added to Hulu called “Not Okay.” The film stars Zoey Deutch and Dylan O’Brien. If you like what we have to say, make sure to check the film out!
Sesa: I was skeptical before watching this film, but I also had high hopes because it was a great lineup of cast members. “Not Okay” is a great feel-good film but also a cringe-worthy one because there will be parts where you can put yourself in Danni’s shoes. This film perfectly represents trying to fit in on social media and not letting your true self show. “Not Okay” is relatable regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual preferences, or interests. The seriousness of this film is carried perfectly with high fashion, humor, and great acting.
Heather: I had conflicting feelings throughout this whole movie. I felt bad for Danni from the beginning, and even by the end, after all she had done, I still felt bad for her. Besides that, I found this movie more enjoyable than I had initially anticipated. There were a few laughs but mostly cringe, which fits the film theme perfectly. I would even go as far as saying there is a lesson to be learned for the viewers.
Logan: “Not Okay” (2022) is a cautionary tale about the dangers of living life for the “likes”; a story of truth and trauma. It’s nicely shot with a primarily modern soundtrack, give or take a few songs. While the acting is reasonably good, Mia Isaac’s performance as Rowan Aldren carries the film. Rowan gives us a well-structured character on which we can hang our hats, while our main protagonist is contrastingly unlikeable for most of the film (as forewarned by Hulu). Dylan O’Brien is unrecognizable, and his character adds a nice bit of fun in an otherwise heartbreaking (on Rowan’s part) or cringeworthy (Danni) commentary about gun violence and social media. Overall, it was fine, but by no means a masterpiece worthy of recommendation.
Katrenia: The movie comes at a time when social media is often incorporated into most people’s day-to-day lives, being relatable in terms of familiarity. Dangers of social media being a prevalent concern amongst various populations and audiences alike, understanding the desperation some may experience in an attempt to gain popularity, presence, and being liked, we may undoubtedly understand where the protagonist is coming from as it sheds light on more potential dangers of social media as we evaluate our own use and presence on the sites.
Courtney: The 2022 Hulu Original film, “Not Okay,” overdramatizes a situation that anyone can find themselves in. Most people can say they have thought of creating a fake story for social media, a happy story in which everything is perfect, and everyone will love them so much. Something better than our real lives. The main character, Danni, goes for the gold on this one and blows up on a global level. Follow along as Danni makes outrageous decisions for likes, followers, and media attention to impress her crush. While trying to make her life look glamorous, Dani finds herself lost in a fragile and dangerous web of lies on the brink of an explosion. I enjoyed watching the movie. I felt sympathy for Danni throughout the film, even when she was in the wrong. “It’s okay to not be okay” is a term the movie presents to the audience because it’s true. Most of us are not okay, more often than not. Though the main character lies so much and steals the words from another character, it doesn’t make them any less accurate.
Misty: “Not Okay” is a film that demonstrates the dark side of social media and how easy it is to get sucked into a world of likes and followers. The main character is a young woman struggling with self-esteem and turns to social media for validation. This film is a cautionary tale about the dangers of living your life for likes and will resonate with anyone who has ever felt not good enough. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. It has moments of cringe-worthiness, and Danni can be pretty unlikeable sometimes. However, it all wraps up nicely in the end with a satisfying conclusion and some valuable lessons to be learned.
Vince: They say strike while the iron is hot, and when Danni Sanders was at a low point in her media career, she tied herself to a catastrophic news story just to get more followers on her social media accounts. The film, in my opinion, shows the real dangers that over-consumption and caring towards social media can do to one’s mental health. Young vulnerable adults should not be searching for validation through the number of interactions or followers they have to feel a high self status or value. The true tip to living a happier life is to live in the truth. Danni’s one lie butterflied effect into more turmoil in her life. All for the sake of interactions. Everything came full circle at the movie’s end, and she was forced to apologize. Even if you were to make a fake story about yourself for social media, technology today allows third parties to fact-check anything said on the web. You cannot hide. Lying about anything is, for one, a sin; the truth always catches up to you.
