The first successful dating website was introduced in 1995 with Match. As the world has shifted with technology, dating apps have become the new way to meet people. Whitney Wolfe entered the picture by creating the app Bumble, which is the focus of the latest film from 20th Century Studios releasing on Hulu titled Swiped. The film is being brought to life by the creative team behind the critically acclaimed HBO Max film Unpregnant.
Inspired by the true story of Whitney Wolfe, Swiped follows the journey of a recent college grad who attempts to tackle a male-dominated tech industry by creating her own dating app. Wolfe faces many obstacles but launches an innovative app that paved the way to her becoming the youngest female self-made billionaire. Emmy-nominated actress Lily James stars in the lead role of Whitney Wolfe.
Swiped Review
Whitney is trying to sell her non-profit start-up idea to anyone that will listen, but the big problem is, nobody is listening. However, she sits in on a deal helping pitch Cardify to Outback Steakhouse, landing her a job as the marketing director for the company. Upon her arrival, the concept and idea of Tinder are formed and created. It goes on to become a massive hit, including winning awards.
Things start to unravel in the app with guys starting to send unsolicited dick pics to girls on the app. Whitney decides to confront the leaders of the company, including her boyfriend, Justin. The guys aren’t receptive to the idea of changing anything because things are going great for the app. She ends up breaking up with Justin, and things get ugly. After Justin starts demeaning her at work, it leads to Whitney leaving the company.
The biggest issue with this script is that it falls into the trap of being damn near like every other biopic we have ever seen. You have the setup of how Whitney started in the world, followed by the fall, which ends with her inevitable rise. Upon watching, you begin to wonder if this movie could’ve been a documentary that allowed the story to unfold in its own right.
Whitney Wolfe is a badass who deserves to have her story served to the world on a silver platter. Overcoming the many obstacles that many women across the world have faced and continue to face, Wolfe battled over and over again not to be pushed to the side. Her rise should be studied in a more engaging atmosphere where people can feel related and even learn.
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Although the script is paint-by-numbers, Lily James’ portrayal is engaging enough to keep the film interesting. James has big shoes to fill in bringing to life Whitney Wolfe, and I believe she handled the role with grace and conviction. Even with the cliché moments and often frustrating dialogue, James gives a monologue at the end of the film that will hit home for many. She’s a remarkable actor who continues to rise to the occasion.
One of the highlights of Swiped was the enchanting score that whimsically took us on the ride. Typically, in these types of movies you don’t have a strong score to back up the film, but Chanda Dancy’s work was a standout among the muddled mess. I also have to give credit to the production and costume team because they delivered in setting the atmosphere for the era in which the film was set.
Is Swiped Worth Watching?
As the film progresses, the back half of the film, where we get to the true meat of Wolfe’s rise to the top, is where the film gets captivating. I understand the purpose of spending a lot of time trying to navigate the obstacles, but it took far too long to develop, leaving very little time for the successful part of her ride. I wanted more from this to enrich Whitney Wolfe and everything she accomplished and not just when the credits rolled.
Even with my moderate complaints, Lily James’ performance and Whitney Wolfe’s story warrant me to give Swiped a slight recommendation, especially since it’s streaming.
Swiped releases on Hulu on September 19th.
