Don Jon (2013)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote, directed and stars as Jon Martello, a bartender from New Jersey whose friends call him “the Don” because he goes home with a new woman almost every weekend. Still, nothing satisfies him as much as the porn he watches every day.

From player to partner

Jon meets Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), who wants a man straight out of a romantic movie. Both chase a fantasy: he expects sex like on his screen, she expects romance like in her films. Only Esther (Julianne Moore), an older classmate, shows him what real closeness feels like.

What you can learn

• Success with women is not the same as connection. Jon has plenty of one-night stands and still feels empty.
• Fantasy ruins reality. Porn and romantic comedies both set unrealistic expectations.
• Routine can hold you back. Jon’s fixed weekly routine is safe, but it stops him from growing.

Verdict

Funny, honest and much smarter than its premise. A good film for any man who is good at getting dates but not at keeping them.