The film “Swiped,” directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, seeks to portray the journey of Whitney Wolfe, a prominent figure in the tech industry and co-founder of the dating app Tinder. However, the movie seems to gloss over the more challenging aspects of Wolfe’s story in favor of promoting a polished, upbeat narrative.
The plot begins with Wolfe, played by Lily James, attempting to pitch an altruistic app idea at a tech event, only to be ignored by the stereotypical tech crowd. She later finds an ally in Sean, a character who sees potential in her ambitious spirit and offers her a chance to prove herself. This leads to her involvement with Tinder, where she introduces the revolutionary swiping feature.
Tinder’s early days are depicted with an air of excitement and rapid growth. Wolfe, along with her friend Tisha, uses innovative strategies to boost Tinder’s popularity, bringing a sense of vibrancy to the company’s expansion. However, as the app reaches new heights, personal dynamics become strained. Wolfe’s relationship with Justin, who is also a part of the Tinder team, turns sour.
The film does touch upon the trials of sexism that Wolfe faced, particularly in a male-dominated environment, shedding light on some of the real-life challenges she overcame. This segment is one of the more intriguing parts of the movie, where it hints at the complexities of Wolfe’s experiences at Tinder, including her struggles with maintaining personal integrity and her eventual push towards creating a safer platform for women.
Despite these engaging moments, “Swiped” largely skips over the intricacies involved in Wolfe’s career and the controversies she encountered. It brushes past significant events, such as her departure from Tinder amid disputes and her eventual success with Bumble, funded by Andrey Andreev, who is embroiled in his own scandal.
The film is criticized for its lack of depth and reluctance to fully engage with the more contentious or darker elements of Wolfe’s story. Instead, it seems more focused on presenting her as a flawless figure of empowerment, which might feel insincere to viewers aware of the complexities involved in her rise to success.
Overall, while “Swiped” attempts to celebrate Wolfe’s achievements and her status as a pioneering female entrepreneur, its tendency to oversimplify and sanitize the narrative might leave audiences wishing for a more honest exploration of her journey.