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| Synopsis:- |
| A As we learn more about the physiological makeup of the body and the brain, are we getting closer to understanding where love comes from and what it is, or will it remain the same life-fulfilling mystery it has always been? For anyone who has ever asked, "Why him, why her, why now?" Dopamine (the name of a natural amphetamine our bodies produce when we're falling in love) looks at love from its most rational to its most emotional and fashions a distinctly modern love story. |
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| Rand (John Livingston) is a computer animator, who has created an artificial intelligence creature designed to interact with children and teach them responsibility. When his prototype is forced into practice at a school, Rand encounters Sarah (Sabrina Lloyd), a teacher he was inexplicably drawn to at his favorite bar one fateful evening. Sparks fly between them, but fundamental differences in their approaches to love and relationships slow them down to a halt. Will their differences keep them apart or will love--and maybe a little dopamine--conquer all? |
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| My review:- |
| "Dopamine" is a compelling and interesting film with a strong central plot in the relationship between Rand and Sarah and a set of engaging and diverse characters and sub-plots. Sarah's brief liaison with Winston provides a jolt that instantly makes the viewer wonder about her character. And I personally felt that Johnson, rather than Rand, was the best match for her. |
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| But it is not without flaws. For one thing I felt that Rand's reason for his obsession with the chemical aspects of love wasn't strong enough. Some further insight into his past relationships might have helped. |
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| The other "flaw", if it can be called that, is that in the course of the film, Sarah became the more interesting character. Rand is out there - we know his hang-ups - but Sarah is the mystery and when her secret (a baby given up for adoption when she was a teenager) is revealed it is she that we want to know more about. The baby, incidentaly, is very nicely alluded to early in the flm in a brief image that makes no sense until later on. Unfortunately, it is at just at the moment of revelation that she fades from view, only returning at the end. |
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| I felt the film would have benefited from exploring Sarah a little more. There was certainly time to do so in this quite short film. There was also scope to use the baby to further explore her relationship with Rand. What if he had tried to explain her feelings for the baby as a mere chemical reaction? |
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| But overall this is a movie that is well worth a watch. The performances are all very good and Sabrina, in particular, shines. This film represents one of Sabrina's most accomplished performances. Her character, Sarah, is damaged and has a hard edge to her, unlike many of Sabrina's previous roles. Yet Sabrina takes on this difficult character and gives her life...proving again what a superb actress she is. |
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| NB: "Dopamine" is available on DVD. |
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