Goodrich movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Goodrich

This dramatic film with heart and perspective is now available on Amazon Prime Video, in select theaters, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 50 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: A

IN A NUTSHELL:

The story is about Andy Goodrich, whose life is upended when his wife enters a rehab program, leaving him on his own with their young kids. Goodrich leans on Grace, his older daughter from his first marriage as he slowly evolves into the father she never had.

Hallie Meyers-Shyer both wrote and directed this touching film. She said she wrote the script 100% with Michael Keaton in mind to the point where if he had said no, she would have buried it and herself in the backyard. Excellent choice. He is phenomenal in this movie.

Already, the film has won the “ReFrame” Award for supporting diversity and LGBTQ+ communities.

THINGS I LIKED:

“I’ve been a Michael Keaton fan since forever. He gives an absolutely stellar performance in this.
I love that Michael Keaton’s work involves artwork, as we see that our lives are our most important creative work. We choose every day how we will design it, and the masterpiece can’t fully be appreciated until the end.
Mila Kunis is fantastic. The fact that she has 2 kids with Ashton Kutcher added great maturity and depth to her performance. She and Michael Keaton have really great chemistry together.
Danny Deferrari plays an incredible young father who gives the greatest speech to a woman in labor. That whole hospital scene brought tears to my eyes. I felt all the feels.
Other standout cast members are Andie MacDowell, Kevin Pollak, young Vivien Lyra Blair, Andrew Leeds, Michael Urie, and Carmen Ejogo.
The film’s poster does a great job of illustrating how we often feel so overwhelmed that we think we’re drowning. Most of the characters in this story feel that way and it’s interesting to see how they deal with it.
I love it when films talk about other films. Michael Keaton’s character watches the 1942 Casablanca film with his kids while commenting how awesome it is. (It is.)
There are huge life lessons here in this movie. The message about prioritizing family came through loud and clear. It’s true, you know. Work, money, awards, hobbies…nothing matters more and will bring you more deep happiness than family.
I enjoyed every minute of this.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

It’s a bit of a slow burn but well worth the time.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored.
Some profanity and F-bombs
A gay man kisses a straight man.
A pregnant woman drinks alcohol.
We see a pregnant woman yell in pain in labor.

THEMES:

Family is the most important thing
Perspective
Rehab
Drug addiction
Priorities
Being there for your loved ones
Fatherhood
New chapters of our life
Becoming better versions of ourselves

FUNNY LINES:

“Hey, if you don’t want me to talk like I’m from L.A., don’t raise me in LA.” – Billie (Vivien Lyra Blair)
“I don’t even remember what you look like in pajamas.” – Grace (Mila Kunis)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Who doesn’t know that their wife is addicted to drugs.” – Grace (Mila Kunis)
“If life isn’t kicking you’re a$$, it’s not doing its job.” – Andy (Michael Keaton)
“You know, the Buddhists say, in the end, there are really only 3 things that matter: how much you’ve loved, how gently you’ve lived, and how gracefully you’ve let go of the things that really weren’t even meant for you.” – Andy (Michael Keaton)
“You know when you see something with your eyes like, you know… school children, let’s say, crossing the street, maybe a little bit of falling rain, or the way that morning sun, you know, comes right through your window and hits a bowl of fruit on your kitchen counter or, even better, that smile on your daughter’s face…You know, you close your eyes and you think ‘I have to remember this because, in that moment, that’s a piece of art…that’s just art.” – Andy (Michael Keaton)
“You’ve let me down my whole life.” – Grace (Mila Kunis)
“Do you know how hard it is for me to watch you be ‘Father of the Year’ all of a sudden? Do you know how painful it is for me that they get a version of you that I never had?” – Grace (Mila Kunis)
“You know you’re my soulmate, right?” – Andy (Michael Keaton)