I am developing an affinity for independent films. What you find in them is a great passion for telling the story and director's, who are completely unaffected by the politics of Hollywood, putting their best foot forward in hopes of making a name for themselves. And, the best independent films have a way of making an impression that lasts beyond your initial viewing. Dopamine, presented by the Sundance Channel and recently released to DVD, makes a valiant effort but falls short of being one of them.

       Director and co-writer Mark Decena makes a promising debut with a love story that explores whether love is an actual human emotion or simply a physiological response to the release of chemicals designed to prompt mating. It is an interesting premise and a great catalyst for conflict as a relationship develops between our lead characters.

       Rand (John Livingston) is a computer programmer, coping with his mother's Alzheimer's and subscribing to the theory (under his father's influence) that love is a chemically induced illusion. Sarah (Sabrina Lloyd) is a grade school teacher with ‘holes to fill', tormented by a decision made years before and looking for a love to fill the void. The two initially cross paths in a bar (where Rand's best friend steamrolls him and ends up taking Sarah home himself), but it is not until Rand is asked to test his artificially intelligent computer creation in her classroom that these two begin to make a connection. As their relationship develops, Rand begins to realize that love is not an artificial emotion and opens himself up to new depths of emotion as he comes to terms with his mother's illness and Sarah's desire to right her past.

       Although Decena approaches his story from a unique perspective, Dopamine still feels formulaic much of the time. There are few surprises as the plot follows the standard ‘boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, conflict separates boy and girl, boy and girl resolve conflict and live happily ever after' formula. And, the film drags just a bit, at times getting bogged down in its own sense of importance.

       Weaknesses in the plot and pacing are overcome, however, in the performances of Livingston and Lloyd. Livingston very much reminded me of Ben Affleck, but with more talent. Rand is a character that is instantly likeable, in spite of his cynicism. He is jaded when it comes to love, but not to the point that it turns him into a womanizing jerk (that role belongs to Bruno Campos in the role of best friend, Winston). It is obvious from the get-go that Sarah is damaged goods - desperate for something pleasurable to replace the pain. However, Lloyd injects a sense of strength into her character, which allows us to empathize with Sarah without ever pitying her. Livingston and Lloyd share a wonderful chemistry on-screen and they handle their dialogue so easily and convincingly that you overlook the fact that it is frequently convoluted.

       Dopamine is presented on DVD in 1.85:1 widescreen and 2.0 Dolby Digital stereo. Extras include a handful of deleted scenes, optional commentary by director Decena, co-writer Timothy Breitbach, and Lloyd, a brief – and mostly uninteresting – making-of featurette, the original movie trailer, a very brief introduction to the film by Decena, and a Decena short-film entitled ‘One Of Those Days' an artsy, subtitled, black and white piece that made little sense to me.

Overall, this film is a mixed bag. While the writing and pacing are a bit weak, Decena proves he's a director to watch and he elicits wonderful performances from Livingston and Lloyd. Although it doesn't deliver the same pleasurable punch as its chemical namesake, Dopamine is a gratifying, albeit predictable, film.