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.

I didn't find this movie has much to say: for me it was mainly about a bunch of unhelpful noisy people making a good-hearted man's difficulties worse. I felt sympathy for Dad, but failed to find much point in seeing his efforts flounder. It was like sitting through a gathering of bickering relatives that mostly make you want to leave the gathering and go sit somewhere else.

Can't complain about the acting. It was persuasive. I just complain about my being there. I decided to finish watching while I washed the dishes. Kinda suited to mood of the movie.

My advice is; go find something else to watch.

Greetings again from the darkness. The heart definitely skips a beat when the phone rings late in the night, awakening us from a deep slumber. Andy Goodrich groggily answers the call to hear his wife inform him that she's checked herself into rehab and then ending the call with, "I'm leaving you". It doesn't take long for us to realize the real problem. Andy seems to be the only one unaware that his wife too frequently swallowed prescription drugs and chased them down with a bit of booze. Over the next few days, Andy is almost too late in recalling that his 9-year-old son has a peanut allergy, and discovers that his 9-year-old daughter (yep, twins) hates to be late for school and likes a glass of water on her bedstand at night.

Writer-director Hallie Meyers-Shyer (HOME AGAIN, 2017, daughter of filmmakers Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer of PRIVATE BENJAMIN and FATHER OF THE BRIDE fame) shows us that Andy (Oscar winner Michael Keaton) has always been somewhat absent from his family, choosing instead to pour his heart and soul into the art gallery he owns. It's a business that once flourished, but now struggles month to month. The old saying goes, 'when it rains, it pours', and Andy is experiencing an emotional and emergency flash flood. The twins, precocious Billie (Vivian Lyra Blair) and quiet Mose (Jacob Kopera), need their dad to crash-course the whole parenting thing, while he also tries to salvage his business. Andy decides to lean on his adult daughter Grace (Mila Kunis, BLACK SWAN, 2010), who also has always felt distant from and let down by her father.

Now, you might be questioning 73-year-old Michael Keaton as the dad of fourth grade twins, but he easily passes for sixty-something here, and his unique blend of dramatic and comedy talent makes him one of the few who could pull this off. His frenetic energy plays right into the role and we accept him as a guy who hasn't been good at 'family' but has the heart to make the effort when he must. The scenes between Andy and Grace are the best, as both Keaton and Kunis work to elevate the material. Supporting work comes from Michael Urie ("Shrinking") as a gay single parent who is a bit over-emotional, Danny Deferrari (SHIVA BABY, 2020) as Grace's opposite-from-Andy husband, Kevin Pollak as Andy's business manager, Carmen Ejogo ("Your Honor") as a feminist singer and a last gasp hope for the gallery, Laura Benanti as Andy's rehabbing wife, Poorna Jagannathan as Grace's doctor, and Andie MacDowell as Andy's ex-wife.

The lesson here is keeping the important things in life as a priority, which is a relatively simple and heavy message, and fortunately the cast (especially Keaton) can handle it. There are enough laughs included - the best involves Halloween costumes of Warhol, Frida, and Dali - to balance the bleak elements and the cliches; however, personally I could have used a bit more of absent dad reconnecting with pregnant daughter. Still, watching Keaton's Andy come to grips with his lifelong self-centeredness makes this one worth watching.

In theaters beginning October 18, 2024.

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.

Andy Goodrich's (Michael Keaton) life is upended when his wife and mother of their nine-year-old twins enters a 90-day rehab program, leaving him on his own with their young kids. Thrust into the world of modern parenthood, Goodrich leans on his daughter from his first marriage, Grace (Mila Kunis), as he ultimately evolves into the father Grace always wanted.

The story is not just about Keaton growing into being a father, it's about him growing every time life throws him sideways. I guess the whole story, with negative event after negative event coming at him from all sides, tearing at who he is, is about him fighting back quietly and stoically and overcoming everything life can bring that's dark. He improves himself into a version that multiple people can love, and he finds what is really important in life instead of spending all of his energy on work. Keaton's performance is brilliant and justifies the writer and director's (Hallie Meyers-Shyer) decision to write the film for him. He is ably backed by Mila Kunis who proved she can do serious acting as well as the comedy she is well known for. Vivien Lyra-Blair as his daughter Ellie deserves a major shout out for her great performance. She's been around for several years now and she just keeps getting better and better.

All in all a great film which says to me "Don't ever give up. Always strive to overcome and move forward." Most of us over a certain age already know this but it's great to have a reminder, and a one done so cleverly and emotionally. A thoroughly enjoyable film with great performances by everyone and I gave it a 7.