A picture is worth a thousand words - but when it comes to social media - a picture is worth a thousand likes.
From Belfies (butt selfies) to dog face filters, picture sharing platforms like Instagram have fueled publicity-hungry millennials into getting their kicks from catchy hashtags, cute emojis and sexy snaps of avocado on toast.
Matt Spicer's directorial debut looks directly down the lens at the inherently self-absorbed ‘selfie’ craze, and the delusion it creates among young adults who are gratified by likes and good lighting; but his sardonic satire brings nothing new to the #foodporn table.
Spicer, who at 33 was welcomed to adulthood by Facebook and Twitter, tries to expose the narcissistic underworld of our cultural trends - but he takes the subject matter in a questionable direction.
Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation, Dirty Grandpa) stars as Ingrid, a socially awkward, deeply-troubled twenty-something, who deals with the loneliness of losing her mother by obsessing over people’s seemingly perfect lives online. But, of course, there's more to those #flawless pictures than meets the eye.
Watching Ingrid's lost and vulnerable soul trying to piece her life together at the mercy of an Instagram trendsetter (Elizabeth Olsen) draws more pity than laughs, and skewers the cautionary tale of the dangers of social media.
Spicer, who also co-wrote the movie's script with David Branson Smith, succeeds when it comes to creating non-preachy dialogue and stylish shots, but preying on mental illness for comic effect makes this outing go south.
The only comedic breather comes from Ingrid’s Batman obsessed landlord, Dan (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), with his character bringing a welcome warmth to the movie.
Plaza delivers a strong performance but she is let down by a script that thinks it's smarter than it is.
Don't worry about having FOMO - there's not much worth seeing here.
