Not Okay Review: A Compelling Satire That Weaponizes Zoey Deutch & Dylan O’Brien’s Comedic Brilliance

I will preface this by saying there’s no real way to review a film when you hear the words “my damaged little girl,” come out of your childhood idol’s mouth. No amount of therapy will make that go away — so thanks, Not Okay!

But that is the ultimate goal of Not Okay. To have us confront the uncomfortable reality of influencer culture and realize just how incredibly vile it is to deal with trauma in the age of viral fame.

What better way to convey unlikability than with actors we admire for their likability?

Not Okay turns out more than okay, thanks to a scrappy vessel of comedic humility and an ensemble of scene-chewing all-stars.

Designed to be resented by its audience, this social media satire embraces the polarizing unlikability of projects like Ingrid Goes West and Scream Queens to create an aesthetically antagonizing dumpster fire of influencer culture.

That harmless internet caper quickly becomes a chilling dark horse with unflinching additions of real-world violence. Unfortunately, to laugh along with this film’s inside jokes is to pay a much greater cost than a typical satire would ask for as we stray from its perfectly curated Instagram feeds.

This realism occasionally hits a nerve, and that’s entirely thanks to the film’s disarming leads, who never let their unlikability stop them from running away with our hearts.

Dylan O’Brien’s Slut Era

From the moment he arrives in a cloud of vape smoke, it’s clear Dylan O’Brien is in his element with Colin.

If Stiles Stilinski stands to be his magnum opus, one could say Colin is the next step in that captivating career evolution. This f*ck-boy is a beautiful, chaotic clash of O’Brien’s comedic chops and compelling character work.

In the wrong hands, Colin would have been a one-dimensional parody, a vice without appeal — but not with O’Brien. He showcases why we worship these posers; why a split second of softness can make us want them even more. Then he burns it all down with one horrendous bathroom scene.

In his self-proclaimed “slut era,” the actor rakes his eyes over our lead, selling it with disgustingly attractive noises like the menace to society he was born to play. He wears this mask a little too well, proving the intensity of his villainous stint on Teen Wolf is still unnerving, regardless of the vessel.

A successful side-character study, his presence elevates the material with a pitch-perfect performance but pulls back when the plot calls for humility. Less is always more with O’Brien, and oh boy, does he leave us wanting a lot more.

Zoey Deutch, An Unlikeable Queen

Zoey Deutch is the queen of this generation’s rom-coms and the only actress capable of pulling off this role.

The pre-film warning does not exaggerate. Danni is the most unlikeable female protagonist you will meet this year. She’s cringe, has no individuality, and never rises to the occasion. Yet, as unlikeable as Danni is, Deutch is ridiculously entertaining to watch.

Hence why we’re not threatening to torch this movie for forcing us to humor such an irredeemable character. As bad as Danni is, the actress tasked with bringing her to life is better.

Deutch’s sharp comedic timing never lets our disdain linger. The dialogue never overstates Danni’s self-proclaimed underdog mentality, and her expressive acting doesn’t make it difficult to understand why Danni is doing this to herself.

Danni’s inner turmoil is fascinating as she suppresses the traits her coworkers admire in favor of the annoying stereotype they despise. Her personification is outrageous, but everything else is dulled by the real-world lens she’s forced to occupy — and that’s where Deutch’s range shines.

When the credits roll on Danni, I find little disdain in my heart for the outcome. Instead, Deutch gives this impossible performance a fighting chance.

Mia Isaac Is the Moment

Danni may be the main character, but Rowan is this film’s lead.

Mia Isaac has the most challenging task of the ensemble because while O’Brien and Deutch dip their toes in the comedic tones of this concept, she is forced to wallow in the straight-cut drama. But jokes are no match for the superiority of her emotional character study.

Rowan’s trauma is the film’s catalyst, and instead of letting that steamroll the performance, Isaac matches Deutch’s wackiness with a brave sorrow. Her unease is a constant reminder that while Danni wanted a platform, Rowan was forced onto one.

In a satire where a school shooting survivor isn’t necessarily the vocal point, Isaac makes sure her character’s experience haunts anyone who wants to settle into the campier tones of this comedy with two chilling spoken-word performances.

She may not be the main character, but she is the defining moment of Not Okay.

Not Everything Is Okay

There is one glaring issue with Not Okay‘s scathing satire. It refuses to make a point of white privilege or cultural appropriation in a film that exemplifies it.

It is okay to look these ugly truths in the face when forcing the token school-shooting survivor to endure firecrackers and lockdown drills. The sickening realities of Rowan’s trauma are exploited to further Danni’s “unlikeable” narrative time again.

However, when it comes to exposing Danni’s treatment of a Black woman, her obsession with taking attention away from minorities, and Colin’s cultural appropriation, the film flinches.

We periodically get “crazy white girl” as the excuse for Danni’s actions. While that eloquently sums up her privileged behavior, it doesn’t effectively address her mistreatment of the BIPOC and LGBTQ2+ communities. Race is only a criticism when directed at Danni’s whiteness.

For a dramedy that boasts a morally grey protagonist, its message often skews too white to have the severe impact it should. You can’t address the unlikeability of this generation without addressing how white influencers use minorities as props.

From Okay to Outstanding

I do not believe Not Okay is a movie you have to like to enjoy. Unfortunately, entertainment this ambitious and convoluted is never that simple.

Sometimes just okay, this dramedy’s quirks aren’t enough to justify the uncomfortable behavior of its protagonist. However, when it staggers into that unsettling darkness, this premise’s clever banter and misleading chemistry strike a note so sinister you cannot help but pay attention.

That’s how Quinn Shephard and this phenomenal cast take aspects of this punchy dark horse from okay to outstanding.

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Not Okay is streaming now on Hulu.

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Not Okay: A First Look at the Zoey Deutch and Dylan O’Brien-led Comedy