Content Warning: Unlikable Female Protagonist - Not Okay (2022)

Zoe Dutch in yet another C-/D+ wannabe indieflick.
Nowadays that mostly means a Hollywood studio production with lower funds
produced by one of their subcompanies (in this case Searchlight).

However Dutch found her niche, or getting squeezed into it.
The superficial gen Z girl working a non-job in some hipster company
producing any kind of web content.

The first act feels a lot like a wannabe satire with Dutch's character acting way over the top,
that seems to be an on the nose build up just to antagonise her, as the black and white internet culture does, till her scheme would finally crumble and the audience would find a katharsis in malicious joy.

We surprisingly ease into a dramedy where things progress naturally in act two, our protagonist slowly makes friends with an activist and stumbles from one lie into the next, tightening the rope around her neck while actually evolving her character.
But holding up the facade of her imposter life gets harder and harder while a colleague is becoming suspiscious.

As the old saying goes, art always reflects society, showbiz society that is.
At least in the US for the last few decades we find the overbearing of media culture with hundreds (or thousands?) of TV channels, the advent of the internet and streaming services making a significant mark in society.

No wonder the aspiriations of youngsters have shifted from becoming a doctor or astronaut to just "famous". Who could blame them if you grow up in a society where outer looks and reputation are considered in higher regard than solid content.

Gigantic media conglomerates hollowed out real debate and the range of "acceptable" opnion gets narrower and narrower. Finding it's current peak at the maxed out social media frenzy which made due process in many cases obsolete. While everybody is hungry for their notorious 15 minutes of fame no matter if villian or victim or both.

So for who is this movie? for teenagers who need to be taught thou shall not lie? Highly unlikely.
the digital natives know better than everyone else that IRL has long been replaced by AFK and that most of your misdoings can be retraced.

For 30+ old farts like me? Also doubtable.
My generation barely gives a shit about internet celebrities. "Real" celebrities seem fake enough.
I don't have an answer, see for yourself if you need to, but since I am 30+, I wouldn't recommend it.

Posted using CineTV