When Andy Goodrich (Michael Keaton) receives a call in the middle of the night, things become problematic. The call is from his current partner, Naomi (Laura Benanti), who has checked into rehab. Andy is both shocked and surprised to hear the news. After all, he thinks Naomi is still in bed beside him sleeping. After revealing her addiction to pills (which Andy had no idea about), she makes matters worse by telling him that she is also leaving him. Now, it is up to Andy to take care of their son and daughter while managing an art gallery full-time.
Sadly, Andy’s problems only continue. The art gallery he manages has been struggling to make a decent profit over the past seven months, and if things don’t change, he’ll lose everything he’s ever worked for. Andy’s oldest daughter from a previous relationship, Grace (Mila Kunis), supports him with the odd babysitting requirements, but like Andy, she is busy. Pregnant with her current partner, she is processing various future opportunities while working as an entertainment writer. While Andy’s life is upside down, Grace requests that he be more supportive of the current events in her world, too. Andy will be forced to step up in all areas of life, from work to gathering to his children’s needs and demands and so much more. The question remains: can Andy get a grip on his life and find peace again?
Goodrich is a comedy with plenty of heartfelt drama along the way. The film was written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, whose past work includes Home Again (2017), which she also wrote and directed. The most significant standout and praise point of this film is the performance by Michael Keaton, who is Andy. The fact he has been thrown into a world of chaos and significant life-changing events in a moment is compelling. As a character, Andy is likeable. Sure, he doesn’t get everything right, and at first, he seems highly clueless when it comes to family, but when forced to swim into the deep end of life, Andy receives a huge wake-up call and rises to the occasion. Keaton’s performance isn’t just fantastic with his compassion or drama; he’s also excellent with his comedic timing, such as when he vents his frustration or interacts with his daughter Grace. Actress Mila Kunis is pleasing and easily more enjoyable on-screen whenever she is interacting with Keaton.
Again, the story itself is enjoyable, and I found myself invested and curious to see how the film would conclude. Would Andy be able to overcome his problems, or would his world worsen to the point that he loses everything around him? Many situations Andy finds himself in are great to see, but at various moments, viewers will hear lines of dialogue from various side characters that feel poorly written. This unnatural dialogue can be a tad too much to accept and feels stiff, like the actors are reading a script.
Overall, Goodrich is a compelling film with a great combination of comedy and drama. It should come as no surprise that actor Michael Keaton is fantastic here, so much so that I could easily praise his performance all day long. His character is likeable, witty, dramatic and heartfelt. As for the story itself, again, it’s all enjoyable here, and I found myself invested and curious to see how the finale would conclude. Still, sadly, specific side characters are written poorly, and worse, various lines of dialogue sometimes feel unfitting, wordy, or unnatural.
Goodrich (2024) is available in Australian Cinemas starting November 21st!
FILM SCORE: 6.9/10
Published: 18th November 2024
Written by: Peter Walkden
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