Dopamine (2003)
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51% of critics liked it
(51 reviews) -
47% of users liked it
(1,152 ratings)
Mark Decena makes his directorial debut with the romantic comedy Dopamine. In San Francisco during the economic heyday of computer technology, Rand (John Livingston) works as a software designer. He and his co-workers, Winston (Bruno Campos) and Johnson (Reuben Grundy), have created a toy called Koy… More Mark Decena makes his directorial debut with the romantic comedy Dopamine. In San Francisco during the economic heyday of computer technology, Rand (John Livingston) works as a software designer. He and his co-workers, Winston (Bruno Campos) and Johnson (Reuben Grundy), have created a toy called Koy Koy, an A.I. cyber-pet that can respond to its owner's voice. Rand's love life hasn't been very productive, especially because his father (William Windom) has been repeatedly telling him that love is just a series of chemical reactions ever since his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. One day, Rand goes out to the bar after work and meets preschool teacher Sarah (Sabrina Lloyd), whom he feels strongly attracted to. When his company test markets his cyber-pet to little kids, Rand meets Sarah again and they are instantly connected. Despite their differing opinions on the chemical nature of love, Rand and Sarah begin a romance that puts their theories to the test. The film also stars Kathleen Antonia and Nicole Wilder. Shot on digital video, Dopamine premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Directed By
- Mark Decena
- Written By
- Timothy Breitbach, Mark Decena
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Oct 10, 2003 Limited
- Studio
- The Sundance Channel
Critic Reviews
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Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
At bottom, what we've got here is a movie about a boy who meets a girl, loses her and tries to find a way to get her back. Which returns us to the original question: Can romance be reduced to scientific formula?
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Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Mostly a drab affair, unfolding in restaurants, office cubicles and anonymous apartments, in which characters talk endlessly about relationships in ways that suggest they think they're being intelligent.
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Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Likable but utterly forgettable.
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Jack Mathews, New York Daily News
An amiably slight independent film that probably should have gone directly to the Sundance Channel.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
... a near miss ...
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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John Livingston
as Rand
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Bruno Campos
as Winston
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Sabrina Lloyd
as Sarah
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Reuben Grundy
as Johnson
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Kathleen Antonia
as Tammy
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Nicole Wilder
as Machiko
