Good Grief
Summary
After conquering goggle box with his Emmy - get ahead seriesSchitt ’s Creek , Dan Levy return to writing with his first feature , Netflix’sGood Grief . In what is also his directorial introduction , he turns to the theme of heartbreak — something most the great unwashed are , unluckily , all too familiar with — and prove its result on a III of friends . The upshot is n’t incisively original , nor is it especially suggestive , but it does conduct to some present moment of true heart , partially because of the excellent cast Levy has assemble .
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Cast
undecomposed Grief is a funniness - drama moving-picture show by author - conductor Dan Levy , who also star in the film as protagonist Marc . After Marc ’s married man dies suddenly , he and his two best friends head to Paris for some much - needed soul searching - where each of the three is hale to face elements of themselves and their pasts they seek to bury away .
Like inSchitt ’s Creek , Levy also star , flanked by impressive performer such as Ruth Negga , Himesh Patel , and Luke Evans . From the premise alone , which feature Levy ’s Marc grappling with the release of his husband Oliver ( Evans ) , it ’s remove the multi - hyphenate has some big emotional aspiration forGood Grief . In some ways , though , it follows a predictable path , even when it seeks to cast in some curveballs regarding Oliver and Marc ’s marriage . The movie begins on a melodramatic government note , with a picture - pure Christmas company ( ended with a sing - along among the Guest ) host by Oliver and Marc at their gorgeous London home that takes a devastating turn . Oliver is a renowned source and must leave early for a book sign language in Paris , but his cab does n’t get very far before it ’s caught in a crash .
Not only did Dan Levy write and lineal Netflix ’s Good Grief , but the player is also starring in the read-only memory - com alongside a few notable public figure .
Good Grief Gets Off To An Awkward Start
The suddenness of Oliver ’s death is no doubt meant to take aback , but or else it feel purposely heartbreaking , compose to extract the maximum amount of sympathy from us . Marc ’s straightaway grief is credible and palpable , but the film races through the first year after Oliver ’s end . Not long after Marc is forced to face the demands of Oliver ’s publisher only one month after his decease , Levy ’s playscript jumps in advance to the summer , when Marc ’s scatterbrained good friend Sophie ( Negga ) is signing him up for a go steady app . Swiftly thereafter , it ’s Christmas again , and Marc is present with an uncomfortable revelation about Oliver . To say more would be a pillager , but the bend is n’t too surprising when it come to this variety of taradiddle about the sudden loss of a spouse .
Nevertheless , it prompts Marc to invite Sophie and their unbeloved pal Thomas ( Patel ) , the third part of the central trio , on a weekend misstep to Paris . It ’s in the Paris stretch thatGood Griefsettles into a more static calendar method of birth control and feel , and that Levy finally take the chance to search his characters . Up until then , Sophie ’s refusal to be pinned down is often observe but then hurriedly gloss over ( intentionally , not because of inadequate writing ) , and Thomas ' yearning for lawful love is his only defining trait outside his loyalty to Marc . However , the Paris trip proves to be enlightening for all of them and conduct to some ferocious confrontations within the friend chemical group .
Good Grief’s Performances Are A Highlight
As the grieving Marc ( who is also grappling with the prior loss of his female parent ) , Levy perfectly portrays the puzzling mix of passion , heartbreak , and episodic joy he feel as he comes to terms with Oliver ’s death . Marc occasionally falls into here and now of selfishness , and Levy plays this in such a way that we never feel compelled to turn against him , even as we nod along with Thomas ' blistering indictment after a night out in Paris leads to all kinds of outcome . Patel gets perhaps the most large-hearted character , and his quiet , unwavering friendship almost propose Thomas is a pushover ; that only makes his eventual outburst so much more refreshing , and Patel rightfully shine .
Ultimately , Good Griefmakes for a solid directorial try for Levy , though the strength of the movie lies more in the performances than the story being told .
If there is a standout among the main triad , though , it is Negga , whose character dancing along the line of reasoning of being , as she put it at one compass point , " a lot . " Negga make a wonderful , hurt soliloquy during an unenviable dinner party in Paris that becomes an behave showcase for the Oscar - propose superstar . She ’s warm and funny and frustrating , and it ’s wanton to see why Marc and Thomas would remain friend with her . limited credit should also go to Kaitlyn Dever in a cameo as the star of the movies based on Oliver ’s books , even if her cringe - inducing paean at Oliver ’s funeral is representative ofGood Grief’stonal clumsiness .
Jamael Westman, Himesh Patel, Ruth Negga, and Dan Levy in Good Grief
Ultimately , Good Griefmakes for a solid directorial effort for Levy , though the force of the movie lie more in the performances than the level being told . This is n’t a photographic film that has novel thing to say about grief , nor does it provide a particularly riveting story for Marc . Levy ’s script ambles along at its own , at times uneven , pace , which at least has the pleasant side essence of giving the roll a case for their talents . In a room , Marc ’s messy way of life through navigate his grief represents the real experience of it , even if it did n’t resonate as strongly as it could ’ve .
Good Griefis now streaming on Netflix . It is 100 minutes long and fink R for language and brief drug use .
Ruth Negga and Himesh Patel in Good Grief
