Parents' Guide to

You Do You

Movie NR 2023 79 minutes
You Do You movie poster: Young and fashionable.

Common Sense Media Review

Jennifer Green By Jennifer Green , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Language, imagined violence in flawed Turkish romance.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

Merve (Ahsen Eroglu) lives with her self-absorbed mom (Zuhal Olcay), a well-respected former journalist, in Istanbul in YOU DO YOU. When they and their eclectic group of neighbors are told they will be evicted, late bloomer Merve realizes she needs to buckle down and get an actual job. She and her friends come up with an idea for a dating app, and when they land a presentation with a possible investor, the meeting results in both funding and a job in fashion for Merve. Turns out the investor, Anil (Ozan Dolunay), has ulterior motives, and his past hides secrets relevant to Merve and her mother.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This Turkish romantic dramedy shows off a cosmopolitan Istanbul but doesn't quite hit its mark on the comedy, the romance, or the drama. This is Netflix's world, and the 20-somethings of You Do You are just living in it. Interchangeable with their peers in almost any contemporary urban setting, they drink coffee to-go, use dating apps, and want to make it rich online. They're all about their Instagram followers and fashion, but they still have Mommy and Daddy issues to work through. The main character talks and gives regular sly looks to the camera. Viewers can decide if these well-worn tropes make the characters more or less likable or believable.

Eroglu is a bundle of affable energy as Merve. She looks and acts much younger than her love interest, bitter investor Anil (a straight-faced Dolunay). This mismatched match undermines the film's romantic storyline. Its dramatic plot involves a mystery without much draw, but some of the secondary characters are entertaining. It all adds up to a watchable but forgettable film, which begs the question of whether more local flavor might have improved this global product.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • What aspects of Turkish culture did you see on display in You Do You? Where could you find more information?

  • Why did Anil want to destroy the building? What were his motivations?

  • What did you think of the idea for the dating app, Soulmates?

  • How does this compare to other romances you've seen?

Movie Details

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You Do You movie poster: Young and fashionable.

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