HBO Max viewers ecstatic over Dakota Johnson’s highly anticipated film, praised as a “charming buddy comedy” in early reviews

The buzz for upcoming dramedy Am I OK? is looking way more than just OK, thanks to the promising social media chatter and glowing early reviews. 

The film, co-directed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, stars Dakota Johnson as a woman in her early 30s coming to terms with her sexuality, namely, realizing her attraction to other women.

The script – which one critic characterized as a ‘buddy comedy,’ as it follows the friendship between Johnson’s Lucy and Sonoya Mizuno’s Jane – was loosely based on screenwriter Lauren Pomerantz’s own journey of self-discovery.

Production was plagued with delays, with COVID scares extending the filming period from 20 to 40 days back in 2021, as Johnson described in a 2022 virtual talk hosted by IndieWire.

The buzz for Am I OK?, starring Dakota Johnson as a woman in her early 30s coming to terms with her attraction to women, is looking more than OK, with positive early reviews all around

‘I would say half of the time making this movie, I was thinking, “There’s no way we’re going to finish this movie. There’s just no way this is going to finish.” Because it kept shutting down!’ admitted Notaro in the same talk. 

But, after a positive reception at Sundance in 2022, the movie’s future looks bright ahead of its June 6 release. 

‘Am I OK? is so easy to love,’ wrote Tina Kakadelis, of Beyond the Cinerama Dome.

‘Charming in all the right places, angry in others, and pit-of-your-stomach sad at times, Pomerantz has written a delightful slice-of-life comedy,’ the review went on, ultimately giving the film five out of five stars. 

Alex Billington, of FirstShowing.net, characterized the flick as an ‘adorable buddy comedy.’

‘It never really tries to be any more complex or thought-provoking than it needs to be. It’s ultimately a more mainstream laugh-out-loud comedy rather than anything more intricate or intellectual,’ the review continued.

Responses to the release of the trailer on X expressed enthusiasm for the premiere release, arriving at the top of Pride Month. 

‘Dakota playing a lesbian woman, okay life is worth living again,’ one wrote.

Another dished: ‘Been waiting on this forever! Glad to see it’s finally out soon.’ 

‘This looks like a better role for Dakota Johnson than her being in Madame Web,’ one user wrote, also throwing shade at the actress’ staring role in the abysmally received Marvel film. 

The movie’s production was initially plagued with delays, particularly thanks to multiple COVID scares during filming in 2021

In the trailer, Johnson’s Lucy can be seen dodging a kiss from man, Googling ‘how to know if you’re a lesbian? ‘ at work – and asking no one in particular, ‘Am I OK?’

X users expressed enthusiasm upon watching the trailer, though many also took the chance to throw shade at Johnson’s previous stint in the critically lampooned Madame Web

‘Okay. I’m interested,’ a second admitted. 

‘Anything Dakota is in (except Madam Web) l watch so June 6, I’ll be there,’ a third chimed in, also backhandedly dissing Madame Web, which received 11 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. 

The trailer, which dropped this month, opens with Lucy and Jane discussing how Lucy has seemingly been leading on a new, male romantic prospect. 

Cut to Lucy dodging his kiss on a date, so emphatically that she falls off the bed.

From there, we see Lucy crying in the bathroom, Googling ‘how to know if you’re a lesbian?’ at work – and asking no one in particular, ‘Am I okay?’

All the while, her dialogue and rapport with best friend Jane suggests a just-below-the-surface sexual tension that Lucy appears to not want to confront. 

The movie is set to debut exclusively on HBO Max.