‘Swiped’ Review: Lily James In A Hollow Hulu Biopic That Fails To Spark At Tiff World Premiere

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Sep 11

Written By Jonathan P. Moustakas

Despite Lily James’ charm, ‘Swiped’ struggles to turn a compelling tech origin story into anything more than a surface-level girlboss fairytale.

In theory, Swiped had the perfect swipe-right premise: a female-led biopic about Whitney Wolfe Herd, the tech entrepreneur who co-founded Tinder and went on to create Bumble. But despite Lily James giving the role everything she has, Hulu’s new drama ultimately feels more like a glossy LinkedIn post than a layered portrait of ambition, sexism, and innovation in Silicon Valley. Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, whose previous film Unpregnant tackled teen issues with more bite, Swiped starts strong but fails to deliver the depth its subject deserves.

That said, Hulu’s latest original film still brings Wolfe Herd’s story to the screen with a sharp eye for style and a cast stacked with charisma. James, balancing resilience with vulnerability, anchors the dramatized biopic of the Bumble founder and Tinder co-creator with an engaging performance. Goldenberg flirts with moments of genuine critique and dramatic weight, only to retreat to a safer, crowd-pleasing space that favors inspiration over interrogation. Swiped is never dull—in fact, it moves at a brisk pace and offers a steady stream of glossy, engaging sequences—but it leaves behind the sharper edges and deeper questions that could have elevated it into something more enduring.

Set amid the frenzied heyday of the early 2010s Silicon Beach startup culture, the film follows Whitney (James), a newly graduated hustler whose grit lands her at a tech mixer where she meets Sean (Ben Schnetzer), a venture capitalist who sees potential in her sharp instincts and people skills. From there, she rockets into the fast-moving world of mobile apps, becoming a pivotal figure in what would soon become Tinder. This first act buzzes with energy: rapid-fire dialogue, ironic jabs at the tech world's Peter Pan syndrome, and scene-stealing performances from a strong supporting cast. Myha'la adds a grounded presence as Whitney’s best friend and confidante, Tisha, while Jackson White's portrayal of Justin—Whitney’s on-again, off-again tech bro boyfriend and co-founder—is infused with just the right balance of swagger and menace.

Goldenberg and her co-writers, Bill Parker and Kim Caramele, do some of their sharpest work when charting Whitney’s growing frustration within the boys' club atmosphere that defines early Tinder. The sexist microaggressions are realistically understated but cumulatively devastating. Whitney is spoken over in meetings, sidelined during key moments, and reduced to a marketing accessory despite her instrumental role in building the app. Her eventual ouster from the company—executed through a series of strategic betrayals and subtle erasures—is one of the film’s most affecting sequences. Here, the emotional stakes rise, and James delivers her most layered moments, capturing Whitney's disillusionment and determination with clarity and empathy.

Where Swiped falters is in its second act: the rapid rise of Bumble. The film races through Whitney’s post-Tinder reinvention with flashy montages and on-the-nose dialogue that gloss over what must have been a complex and difficult process. Instead of dramatizing her legal battles, brand-building choices, or the intricacies of app development, the film speeds forward, compressing years of trial and error into scenes that feel more like LinkedIn highlight reels than emotionally resonant storytelling. Whitney's evolution into a founder and CEO is inspiring in concept, but dramatically undercooked in execution. Even her most impactful decisions are depicted with a level of simplicity that suggests a missed opportunity for more detailed exploration.

Still, Lily James remains the film’s strongest asset. She brings nuance to Whitney’s journey, evolving from idealistic newcomer to seasoned entrepreneur with conviction and grace. James manages to keep us invested even when the film's script takes shortcuts. Her performance is matched by a surprisingly effective Dan Stevens, who plays Russian investor Andrey Andreev. With an unrecognizable look and offbeat comedic timing, Stevens breathes life into the film’s latter half, offering moments of unpredictability and charm that the script doesn't always capitalize on. Together, James and Stevens infuse the narrative with a dynamic rhythm that often compensates for the screenplay’s lighter dramatic touch.

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The visual presentation is top-tier. Cinematographer Hilary Spera and production designer Hillary Gurtler craft a vibrant, aspirational aesthetic that mirrors the glossy promise of the tech world, while a propulsive score helps drive the momentum. Goldenberg's direction favors a bright, millennial-friendly tone, and for the most part, it works. What doesn’t work as well is the film’s hesitancy to interrogate its own contradictions. Swiped nods to the dark side of dating apps—the harassment, the objectification, the toxic behavior—but never lingers long enough to reckon with the responsibility of those who built the systems in the first place. Instead, it briefly acknowledges the issues before retreating to feel-good storytelling.

As a viewing experience, Swiped succeeds in being breezy, inspiring, and accessible. As a biopic, however, it feels slightly unfinished. There’s a better, deeper story lurking underneath—one that isn't afraid to highlight the moral ambiguities, personal tolls, and unglamorous grind behind the success story. While the film does a good job introducing Whitney Wolfe Herd to a broad audience, it stops short of painting a fully textured portrait of her innovation and leadership. It sells the story, but not always the stakes. Audiences are given a glimpse into a remarkable life but not the emotional gravity that such a transformation entails.

Goldenberg and team deliver a film that, while enjoyable, often plays it too safe. And while there's value in seeing a woman-centered story of success celebrated with this kind of pop sheen, one can’t help but wonder what a slightly messier, more honest version of Swiped might have looked like. In its current form, it's a film that entertains but doesn’t quite provoke. It swipes right on charm, left on complication.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

That’s a Wrap

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Swiped

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That’s a Wrap | Swiped |

“Lily James shines in an otherwise sanitized biopic that turns Whitney Wolfe Herd’s genuinely trailblazing journey into an algorithm-friendly empowerment tale. ‘Swiped’ has style, but not enough substance.”

— Jonathan P. Moustakas

Credits

Screened: Tuesday September 9, 2025 9:30 PM | TIFF Premiere Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Director: Rachel Lee Goldenberg

Writers: Rachel Lee Goldenberg, Bill Parker, Kim Caramele

Cast: Lily James, Jackson White, Myha'la, Ben Schnetzer, Dan Stevens, Clea DuVall, Ian Colletti, Coral Peña

Distributor: Hulu / 20th Century Studios

Release Date: September 19 (Streaming)