Daddio movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Daddio

This dramatic movie is now playing in theaters.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 41 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

The story is about a woman who takes a very long cab ride from JFK airport to Manhattan. She engages in conversations with the taxi driver about the important relationships in their lives.

The film was written and directed by Christy Hall.

THINGS I LIKED:

Sean Penn gives us a multi-layered character in one of his best performances. In the beginning of the movie, the look in his character’s eyes reveals that he’s attracted to Dakota Johnson’s character, so he engages in flirtatious questions. By the end of the movie, he looks at her as a father figure. The shift was subtle but noticeable. That’s great acting. Do I smell an Oscar nomination?
Dakota Johnson is beautiful as a blonde or brunette or any color. Her skin is flawless. In the movie, Dakota Johnson’s character’s age is questioned. She doesn’t say how old she is, but in real life, she’s 34. She plays a young woman who is having an affair with a married man. I have no respect for women who can do that. She gives a very compelling performance.
This kind of a movie is called a “two-hander”, which means there are only two characters in it. The weight of the success of this film rests firmly in this pair’s hands. The good news is that they are more than capable in their roles. That’s an especially impressive feat, considering the entire movie takes place in a small space inside a taxi.
There is a conversation about Bucket Lists. I highly recommend making one! I used to just look at my Bucket List and say, “Someday”, but I decided to move the items on my list to my calendar to MAKE them happen. That has made all the difference in my life. Crossing them off one by one has been such a joy and empowered feeling.
There is no action. This is 100% a character study that is dialogue driven.
I’ve had experiences when talking with complete strangers has been so helpful and insightful. They’ve happened to me several times on long airplane trips.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The description of the movie promises stimulating conversation. Instead, we get a lot of profanity and talk of sex. I would be jumping out of the car if a taxi driver got that personal with me on a ride. I imagine a lot of viewers will walk out during the sexting portions of the film and be very bored and simultaneously shocked at how quickly the conversation turned to sex.
We have to read a LOT of texts. This is not a movie you can have playing in the background while your eyes are doing something else.
I wanted to shake Dakota Johnson’s character out of her dumb funk and leave the married man.