Just Swipe
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Just Swipe
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Just Swipe is a romantic comedy indie film about a woman who always finds something wrong with her dates and romantic partners. Encouraged to not let something good pass her by, she opens up for the first time. To complicate matters further, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic begins right as things seem to be going her way. Expect a fair amount of sexual joking, as well as frank conversations about sex and relationships. There's no nudity, but men are shown topless and in their underwear. A woman picks up her clothes off the floor the morning after a sexual encounter (not shown). Adults over videoconferencing pleasure themselves while talking to each other (scenes are waist up). Adults discuss dates, how attractive other people are, and sexual experiences. A man says that he likes being tied up. Simple drawings of penises cover someone's COVID-19 mask. There's some romantic kissing, and adults drink wine and get slightly drunk. Both main characters are White, but the supporting cast features a gay Asian American man and a Latina woman. Some mild language includes "goddammit," "frickin'," "d--k," "hell," "crap," and "his junk."
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What's the Story?
In JUST SWIPE, a woman, Vanessa (Jodie Sweetin), continues to be single. She seems to find something wrong with just about everyone. But with the encouragement of her friends (and a worldwide pandemic), she'll try, for once, to let something grow. Enter the seemingly perfect Brandon (David Lipper). Will he turn out to be everything he seems to be? Will Vanessa stick around long enough to find out?
Is It Any Good?
There's nothing new about this story, the lesson it teaches, or the place it ends up, but the performances are earnest and the messages are positive. Also, in Just Swipe there's even some real comedy hidden within the bare-bones story. While the main characters lack any kind of real distinction or nuance, the supporting cast are bright, funny, and worth watching.
Unfortunately, however, the movie also completely lacks any kind of real conflict. Sure, Vanessa has some doubts at some point, but nothing that isn't righted within five minutes. Most of the movie is simply a straight shot to a happy and expected ending. Further, for some viewers, while Brandon can seem a bit too perfect, it also won't be entirely clear what exactly Brandon sees in Vanessa. Lastly, unlike the film's title suggests, the online dating world on which this movie wants to comment isn't entirely represented here completely or accurately, as the movie's stylistic representations of "swiping" left or right, as is now customary in many online dating apps, are only used for brief montages or transitions into the next scene. The majority of the story focuses on the romance between two people, rather than on a woman's many (disastrous or laughable) dates in the online dating world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the representation of sex and sexual relationships in romantic comedies. Did the frank conversations and joking about sex help make Just Swipe feel more realistic? Why, or why not?
What made Vanessa realize that she shouldn't let Brandon go?
If this film was made about a younger generation of people, what would be different?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: February 22, 2022
- Cast: Jodie Sweetin, David Lipper, Danielle Perez, Alec Mapa
- Director: Elizabeth Blake-Thomas
- Studio: Legacy Distribution
- Genre: Romance
- Run time: 83 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: December 9, 2022
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