Just Swipe: Another Pandemic Rom-Com

Jodie Sweetin stars as Vanessa in Just Swipe. Courtesy of Legacy Distribution.

Just Swipe is a pandemic romantic comedy but the film reunites both Jodie Sweetin and David Lipper from Full House and Fuller House.

Let me get this out of the way right now: making a film during a pandemic is no easy feat. That said, you have to applaud the cast and crew for getting it off the ground. Many of us have pandemic fatigue so Just Swipe will probably struggle to find an audience. Speaking for myself, Jodie Sweetin is a big draw in saying yes to the film. However, the presence of the Full House and Fuller House star isn’t enough when you have pandemic fatigue. One can only watch so many Zoom screens during a film if you know what I mean. This isn’t to say that the entire film is a Zoom film because it isn’t. There are portions where it is a Zoom screen with the classic camera troubles and all.

Vanessa (Jodie Sweetin) is still looking for the right guy. She’s still looking in the weeks leading up to the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced everyone into quarantine in March 2020. Being in a pandemic means going on virtual dates as opposed to in person. While the film deals with Vanessa dating Brandon/Daniel (David Lipper), her best friends Donna (Danielle Perez) and Miles (Alex Mapa) are never far way.

One fascinating aspect to the film is that it is shot in one location. Give credit where credit is due because Frank Sinatra’s old Woodland Hills mansion makes for multiple locations on screen. This allows for cast to be present together in the real world in addition to the Tech POV during the pandemic. Even with this, there are multiple camera angles in person. The film also allows for multi-tasking: working on the computer while talking with friends on the phone. Other projects would send the equipment to their actor’s home but because everything is in one huge location, Just Swipe doesn’t have to worry about it. One technical note: the elevator was constructed on the driveway as there isn’t one in the house.

The virtual dating aspect is where Just Swipe is going to either keep your interest or lose it. It’s not for me to tell you what you should do but there’s only so many pandemic films and series that audiences are willing to watch.

DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Blake-Thomas
SCREENWRITER: Wendy Braff
CAST: Jodie Sweetin, David Lipper, Alec Mapa, Danielle Perez, with Naomi Grossman, Eddie McClintock, Joe LoCicero, Kameron Hood, Rachelle Carson-Begley, Matt Rife, Sohm Kapila, Jazzmun, Mike Bradecich, Ashleigh Morghan, Keli Price, William Romeo, Ron G, Kipp Tribble, Sarah Tubert, Steven Clark, Dylan Griner, and Abbie Georganna

Legacy Distribution will release Just Swipe on Digital on February 8, 2022.

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Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.