Good Grief Movie Review: Tells the Story of A Tragic And Heartbreaking Love In A Linear Way

Cast: Daniel Levy, Ruth Negga, Himesh Patel, Celia Imrie, David Bradley, Arnaud Valois, Luke Evans

Director: Dan Levy

Streaming Platform: Netflix

Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3/5 (three stars)

There was a lot of anticipation for Good Grief, the directorial debut of actor and Schitt’s Creek showrunner Dan Levy. It is a film that tells the difficult road of grief, an ambitious project between comedy and drama about a man who struggles to deal with the sudden death of his husband. Unfortunately, as we will see in this review of Good Grief, the film turns out to be rather uninspired and overall unsuccessful: full of tear-jerking seriousness that lingers on a little too long. In its serious approach to studying the impact of loss and mourning, of moving forward to accept the new possibilities that life offers us, Good Grief loses depth. Despite this, he has honorable intentions and, although he lacks the grit that could have kept him going, Daniel Levy could do interesting things. We are only in the first week of January and already the platforms and cinemas are eager to give us new films and new TV series. On Netflix, for example, Good Grief has been available since January 5, which tells a story of grieving.

Not only the consequences of the absence of a loved one who is no longer with us but also the profound changes that are faced in responding to the pain that someone’s death has produced. The new film is written, directed, and starring Dan Levy (the famous American sitcom Schitt’s Creek); also taking on the role of producer, Levy is therefore the factotum of the work. Good Grief talks about Marc (Levy) and his husband Oliver (Luke Evans) their life together is interrupted by the latter’s death. Marc seems to be engulfed by grief but faces it with the support and company of his lifelong friends by whom he is surrounded, Sophie (Oscar nominee Ruth Negga, Loving) and Thomas (Himesh Patel, Yesterday). A year of his life passes by trying to grieve Oliver’s death and, as the anniversary of her late husband’s passing approaches, the exploration brings out unknown sides of the man she loved. Everything that comes out catapults Marc into a completely new truth, once again amplifying the pain he suffers without having the possibility of obtaining explanations.

Good Grief Movie Review: The Story Plot

Marcus and Oliver live a comfortable life in London. The first is an artist, the second is a very famous writer. By the time the film begins, it’s Christmas, and the two are singing in their luxury apartment with friends and family, and there’s nothing that can break the magic. They are a married couple, and they love each other like the first day, their love is celebrated by all the people around them, especially by Sophie and Thomas, Marcus’s best friends. That same evening, however, Oliver is forced to leave due to a book presentation that will be held the next day in Paris, but immediately after taking the taxi, he dies in front of his husband’s eyes.

Traumatized by what happened, Marcus – already shaken by the loss of his mother – decides not to metabolize the event and turns his back on mourning, even avoiding reading a letter that Oliver had left him before the accident. After several months, Sophie and Thomas push him to open it to understand what her husband had written to him, and it is at that moment that Marcus comes across some uncomfortable and unexpected truths. Determined to get to the bottom of it, he leaves with his friends for Paris, where he will be faced with the harsh reality thanks to which he will have to face Oliver’s death: losing someone is difficult, but somehow you have to process it.

Good Grief Movie Review and Analysis

The film undoubtedly has a bittersweet flavor: in this sense, the director knows how to combine the most tragic scenes with the more light-hearted ones. Good Grief opens with the image of a Christmas party, the viewer has a strong inkling of impending tragedy. The plot does not fail to live up to expectations, appearing perhaps too predictable from the start. Oliver (Luke Evans), the husband of the protagonist Marc (Dan Levy), is immediately the victim of a car accident. After showing us the total desperation of the director’s alter ego character, the film demonstrates that it is possible to find hope after mourning. With a very simple and linear story, an extremely positive message emerges, essential in its power. Marc’s moments of difficulty do not end here: in fact, he discovers important secrets that his husband kept hidden, on a journey that takes him to Paris. On the other hand, despite their complexity, his two best friends, Sophie (Ruth Negga) and Thomas (Himesh Patel) temper the climate of nostalgia. Marc himself opens up to the possibility of being happy again, with his art and with new knowledge.

A significant part of Good Grief is set in Paris, a truly unmistakable location, that always knows how to give a little magic to its films. Photography enhances some views of the city, highlighting more or less famous places. For the protagonist, Paris represents the place of a traumatic discovery, but also the context of his rebirth. In addition to being the city of love, the French capital shows itself in all its charm as the city of art. For example, the sequence in which Marc visits the rooms of the Orangerie Museum at night, admiring Monet’s water lilies with his artist’s eye, is very evocative. As the title suggests, Good Grief is a love film: we see the protagonist involved in a tormented relationship with her husband and beyond. In reality, the bond that Dan Levy describes perhaps best in the film is friendship. In a situation in which the romantic relationships of the main characters appear precarious or painful, the solidarity and trust that unites them seems to be the solution. The trio formed by Marc, Thomas, and Sophie is very convincing, also giving rise to funny scenes.

In addition to being a director, Dan Levy plays the character of Marc with great sensitivity. As mentioned in certain interviews, the actor feels the story is very personal and this certainly emerges in his acting. Even his chemistry with colleagues Ruth Negga and Himesh Patel appears truly spontaneous and natural, together they manage to create an extremely credible friendship. The success of Schitt’s Creek – and the ongoing meme-fiction of the series – has led many fans to think of Levy as a comedian: certainly, he was as hilarious as David Rose in the series. However, by his admission, Levy is much more introspective than his debut show might suggest. Despite its guise as a sentimental comedy, Good Grief isn’t particularly funny. It masks itself behind a palpable sense of lightness, but it also shows a dramatic side to Levy that might surprise viewers.

Ultimately, Good Grief is a love story. But Levy eschews the kind of romantic love he depicted with such emotional grace in Schitt’s Creek: Here he’s more interested in how we can love our friends and ourselves, especially when the shadow of grief looms large. These are flawed characters who stumble, as Marc, Sophie, and Thomas admit during a trip to Paris throughout the story. No one has it all figured out, they agree, even if you have a marble floor in your London home. For most viewers, Good Grief might seem pretty corny, but so was Schitt’s Creek, which means it might still strike a chord with some audiences. Dan Levy seems to have concentrated on creating flat characters. Thanks to the typical Netflix aesthetic, characterized by recognizable photography and shots that reveal no surprises, the context created is cold, a mirror of an Ikea catalog reality that fails to arouse the warmth of love and the fury of pain.

The story begins in London and then continues in Paris, but it could be anywhere: you don’t feel the warmth of the Parisian streets in December, during the Christmas period; the places where the protagonists walk and wander all seem the same, there is no specific timbre that distinguishes one moment from another. Even the homes where life flows and confidences are shared seem indistinguishable, cold, and impersonal. Even though Marc is a designer who has furnished his house with his works, the context remains distant, and the subdued personalities of the characters fail to add anything. Good Grief tells an unfortunately common tragedy but does so in a way that does not generate empathy, on the contrary, it almost causes detachment. Detachment because it is unlikely to recognize oneself in an extremely comfortable life that allows a person to focus on themselves for as long as necessary to get back on top, in a background of extremely cold luxury. The feeling at the end of the film is that of having witnessed something incomplete.

Good Grief Movie Review: The Last Words

Good Grief tells the story of tragic and heartbreaking love linearly, opening up to the concrete possibility of finding happiness again. Animated by an optimistic spirit, the film balances between melancholy sequences and more light-hearted ones. Paris gives a magical atmosphere to a story that highlights, more than anything else, an authentic friendship. Despite the risk of falling into predictability, Dan Levy‘s direction and performance are more than convincing. Good Grief loses credibility in the uncertain balance it displays between romantic comedy and mournful drama, struggling to find its way and an interesting direction. Despite this, Dan Levy is an interesting character, who could reserve surprises for us in the future.

Good Grief Movie Review: Tells the Story of A Tragic And Heartbreaking Love In A Linear Way - Filmyhype

Director: Dan Levy

Date Created: 2024-01-05 16:13

Editor's Rating:
3

Pros

• Strong performances: Dan Levy, Ruth Negga, and Himesh Patel deliver convincing portrayals of friends grappling with grief.
• Sharp dialogue: The film boasts witty and heartfelt conversations, showcasing Levy's comedic and dramatic writing skills.
• Beautiful cinematography: The European settings, particularly Paris, are captured with elegance and charm.
• Exploration of grief: The film tackles the messy, complex nature of grief in a refreshingly honest way.

Cons

• Limited emotional depth: Some critics felt the film didn't delve deep enough into the characters' emotional journeys.
• Self-absorbed characters: The affluent, privileged protagonists might not resonate with all viewers.
• Uneven pacing: The film drags in certain moments, impacting the overall flow.
• Predictable plot: The story follows a familiar formula, lacking genuine surprises.