Goodrich

Andy Goodrich gets an abrupt phone call in the middle of the night, changing his entire world. His wife has checked herself into rehab, leaving him to figure out his life outside of his art gallery. As he stumbles and fumbles with her 90-day absence, every aspect of his life starts to unravel, which gives him a new perspective and appreciation of his life and its relationships.

This dramedy shows how some people may lose sight of what is essential, pursuing a career that does not love them back like those in their lives. The story is simple and is shared with a bit of humor and a bit of drama. It takes the viewer through the 90 days, showing how Andy Goodrich adapts and changes to his circumstances and learns along the way. With a runtime of one hour and fifty minutes, the story does an excellent job of moving along but has parts that stall and slow it down. This is a unique watch, but it is worth waiting for it to arrive on a streaming service than paying for a movie ticket.

Well, we've seen almost every kind of Michael Keaton there, right? We saw Batman Keaton, we saw Birdman Keaton, we saw The Founder Keaton, and so on. This is him treading comfortable yet dramatic waters, as a father of a 36-year-old and twin 9-year-olds. The film discusses the theme of modern parenting, especially from the perspective of a workaholic, somewhat absentee father.

But since we're talking about an "endearing" Michael Keaton here, can he ever be the quintessential bad guy? Nope. And the film never makes that to be the case. There's the occasionally witty quip, but Goodrich doesn't really aim for comedic highs. It's a drama by all means, with Keaton and Mila Kunis doing most of the work. The finale can be seen coming a mile away, yet it lands on steady ground, thanks to its lightweight treatment and good performances overall.

Like the great Jack Lemmon, Michael Keaton has always had an affinity for films that are not easily categorized as either drama or comedy. Goodrich is certainly more drama than comedy, but a seasoning of ironic humor gives it a valuable extra dimension.

Goodrich, the character, could be a stereotype: he's a guy who's spent too many years in love with his career (as owner of a chic art gallery), and not enough years showing love for his (2) wives or (3) children. The story focuses particularly on his 30-something daughter from his first marriage, and his two nine-year-olds from the more recent one. As the movie opens, Goodrich faces a confusing situation, and the challenges rapidly get tougher as the story progresses.

In strong contrast to many feel-good films having a roughly similar storyline, Goodrich doesn't offer easy answers or magical redemption. It shows life as a constant struggle, allowing us to cringe at the protagonist's failures, and feel warmed by his successes. The script is impressive, dodging many tired twists, and taking the audience on an emotional rollercoaster.

Goodrich is an older character for Keaton, and one that's much less obviously appealing than most of those he's portrayed previously. But few other actors could have made Goodrich so rough and prickly, and at the same time so sympathetic. We really want to see this guy succeed, despite his at times almost unforgivable flaws.

Some viewers may be put off by the rambling style of the movie. But the narrative is actually very cohesive - like real life, you have to let it come at you at its own lurching pace. Good things happen, bad things happen. Some of these things Goodrich - the character - handles badly. Others much better than we might expect. (In its realistic ambiguity, Goodrich - the movie - reminded me quite a bit of Jack Lemmon's least-comedic film, Save the Tiger.)

Given the late release of Goodrich in 2024, one might assume that its creators had some Oscar hopes. Keaton, having been criminally overlooked by the Academy so far, certainly deserves a nomination. So does the script... and possibly Mila Kunis as well.

Goodrich is top-notch in just about every way. It isn't a movie for everyone, or for every occasion - it's emotionally demanding, and as tragic as it is inspiring. But when you're in the mood for that kind of movie, you'll find Goodrich to be among the best of its type.

"Goodrich" is a movie with its heart in the right place, yet it struggles to fully deliver on its emotional promise. Michael Keaton shines in his role, showcasing his ability to balance vulnerability and humor, while Mila Kunis provides a solid performance that adds some depth to the family drama. Their chemistry offers glimpses of what the movie could have been if its storytelling had been tighter.

The film stumbles with its uneven pacing and a script that feels too predictable at times. While some scenes carry genuine emotional weight, others fall flat, bogged down by clichés or an over-reliance on sentimentality. The mix of humor and drama occasionally feels forced, as if the movie is unsure of the tone it wants to maintain.

Visually, "Goodrich" makes good use of its Los Angeles setting, with a warm, polished aesthetic that fits the movie's themes of family and personal growth. The score is pleasant and inoffensive but lacks the kind of memorability that might elevate key moments.

Overall, "Goodrich" is a decent watch for its performances and occasional heartfelt moments, but it doesn't leave a lasting impact. It's a safe, middle-of-the-road film that's enjoyable enough for a quiet evening but unlikely to stick with you long after the credits roll.

Goodrich starts off somewhat disjointed but gradually finds its stride, especially towards the end. The film offers several heartwarming moments, but the first act suffers from excessive exposition that feels forced and unnatural. Rather than relying on dialogue-heavy scenes, the story would have benefited from showing more of the evolving relationship between Goodrich and his eldest daughter, Grace. Unfortunately, too much time is spent on the somewhat irrelevant dynamic between Goodrich and Michael Urie's character (Terry), which detracts from the main plot. Additionally, the film struggles with balancing serious moments, often interrupting them with forced witty dialogue that undermines the emotional impact. Despite its flaws, "Goodrich" manages to deliver a somewhat satisfying finish, though it could have reached deeper emotional heights with better pacing and character focus. For a sophomore directorial effort, it was satisfactory.