The constant need to be plugged in and connected threatens to crash the real-life operating system of three technologically obsessed twentysomethings in director Joe Swanberg's humorous meditation on the relationship between man and machine in modern society. Tim does computer work for a living, but he also lives for his computer. Unfortunately his inability to snap the lid closed on his laptop is rapidly alienating his girlfriend Ada, who recognizes Tim's apparent inability to communicate with
other people without the buffer of technology. Meanwhile, as struggling musician Alex obsesses over a girl he met on an adult website, a flesh-and-blood girl named Walter does her best to make her attraction to Alex known. Lastly, Chris has transferred from New York to Chicago due to the demands of his job, making a long-distance relationship with his East-coast girlfriend Greta increasingly difficult to maintain. Though the pair talks constantly on their cell phones while also sending cell-phone pictures to one another, neither Chris nor Greta can deny that their reliance on technology in sustaining their relationship is no substitute for the living, breathing warmth of human companionship. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Joe Swanberg -- who directed, edited, lensed, co-wrote and played one of the lovelorn characters -- has done wonders with a nothing budget and a personable cast of nonprofessional actors.
The movie is unusually attentive to the ironies of communications technology: Note the subtle but definite awkwardness that creeps into the conversation after a prospective girlfriend casually tells Alex that she only checks her e-mail once a week.
Scruffy, loosely structured and piercingly perceptive about the ways in which technology that supposedly brings people together actually keeps them apart.
LOL makes a pretty solid case that, despite our being able to reach anybody at any time, most of us still lack the ability to really 'reach' anyone at all.
A torture to sit through, but so disturbingly realistic that I just couldn't not. This is a movie that only our generation can watch and understand, capturing the awkwardness and miscommunication that online networks and cell phone usage have inflicted on our lives. However, I'm not sure how helpful it is to make us
more aware of this problem, since no solution was presented. Abort myspace?
This movie is definitely dipicts the disadvantages of living in the technological age. The story follows three young men and how they are addicted to being plugged into their computers and cellphones. Their actions lead them to have troubles with the relationships or lack of relationships in their lives.
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