Dopamine

Though the premise could've been enough to make Dopamine seem cold and heartless.. the "chemistry" between the romantic leads saved the day.. Sarah & Rand seemed wonderfully suited to one another. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet film.. it was beautifully shot, the juxtaposition between the natural, human & computer worlds gave the premise a wonderful tableau to set upon.. I would've liked to have seen more of Rand's father and less of Rand's partners but otherwise, I thought this was a wonderful first from Decena and look forward to seeing what's next.

Not your typical romantic comedy. It's thought provoking and full of wit instead of the same old, same old. Perfect for anyone looking for something different... a romnatic comedy that is well directed, well filmed, well written, and, most of all, well acted. Dopamine is a film worth watching. The cast is real. The story is interesting. The characters deserve your attention and you'll remember them all. They all have different levels of depth and that's something missing from most films. It's not just a cute little romantic comedy that'll make you sigh and giggle. It's full of truth and will make you think and rethink chemistry and the chemicals that create attraction.

It's a wonderful movie. The premise is clever. All of the acting is well done. The character, Sarah (Sabrina Lloyd) really caries this movie, as Rand (John Livingston) is a likable underdog type that you instantly root for, but Sarah, while likable, has a darker side and if the audience doesn't care about her then the movie falls apart. A less charismatic and talented actress could not have pulled this part off, but Sabrina Lloyd seems to handle it with a natural charm that makes it look easy. I have no doubt that she will have many opportunities thrown her way based upon her work here.

This is a great movie, however a few minor details could have made it better. At just over 80 minutes, they really could have filled out the movie a little more. I can't help but feel that there is a lot of story left untold and some of the scenes feel a little disjointed. With it being an independent feature, I'm sure a lot of this has to do with budget and time (trying to get into Sundance.) I also would have enjoyed a few more light moments between characters.

I think one of the reasons some people haven't taken to it is the mistaken idea that it is a romantic comedy. It really isn't. There are a few light moments (don't know if I would even call them comedic moments), but this is definitely a drama. The issues and material are serious, so anyone waiting for Sandra Bullock type goofiness, Meg Ryan over sentiment or Three's Company sexual innuendo miscommunication are going to be disappointed.

Dopamine is the chemical emitted by the brain that creates pleasure when we're in love. So is that all love is? A chemical in our brain that makes us want to procreate? Or is there something more to it, something in our "hearts"?

These are the issues at the center of "Dopamine", a likeable but insubstantial indie comedy/drama from new director Mark Decena.

Set in San Francisco, it's about a computer programmer named Rand (John Livingston), who is working with 2 other guys on an interactive children's program called Koy Koy, named after the cute little digital bird that the kids are supposed to talk to. In shopping the program around, he meets Sarah (Sabrina Lloyd, from TV's great, cancelled "Sports Night"), a complicated kindergarten teacher, and they begin dating.

The relationship is tense because Rand is emotionally withdrawn having not yet fully dealt with his mother's tragic Alzheimer's, and has become convinced that love is nothing but a chemically-induced illusion in our brains (dopamine), after hearing his father's bitter diatribes on the subject.

One of the movie's very good qualities is that it takes time to ponder this issue, whether love is only a chemical reaction or if it's something more. It doesn't offer any concrete answers, but how could it? Also, the acting is mostly very good (particularly by Sabrina Lloyd), and the San Francisco cinematography is excellent and atmospheric.

On the minus side, though, there's just not very much to it. It's working from a unique angle, but otherwise it's pretty much like every other mopey, arsty indie love story. And even at an extremely short 79 minutes, it feels a little padded.

I saw "Dopamine" at a screening where director Mark Decena and executive producer Eric Koivisto spoke afterwards and did a Q & A. They are young, friendly and talented guys, and even though THIS movie is not entirely successful, it's promising and full of potential. I wish them the best.

I really enjoyed the unfolding of these characters, all of which have their own challenges.

The interplay between the programmers is especially witty. Bruno Campos is very funny and Grundy plays a great straight man.

Great visual portrayal of San Francisco.

Sarah has a genuineness about her that reflects reality, not stereotypes or cliches.

I look forward to future works by Decena and Breitbach and they continue to evolve as filmakers.

The Sundance process is one that needs to be supported and I hope to see the Sundance Film Series be a regular thing.