You won’t be “Ew,David”-ing your way throughGood Grief.Instead, grab a tissue and prepare to be moved. The comedy/drama is directed byuber hipsterDan Levy,the man who took black-and-white attire to new fashion heights playing David Rose onSchitt’s Creek.Levy also stars inGood Grief,the Emmy-winning actor, writer, and director’s first offering in the exclusive deal he inked with Netflix.
The film features a solid cast in a rare kind of love story — one that shines light on the bonds we have with dear friends. Here, Marc (Levy) is living in the shadow of his larger-than-life hubby, Oliver (Luke Evans). Oliver’s unexpected death tears Marc apart, sending him into the comforting arms of his two best friends, former lover-turned-BFF Thomas (Himesh Patel) and upbeat Sophie (Ruth Negga). A soul-searching trip to Paris sounds like a grand idea, but ultimately it exposes hidden truths Marc needs to face about his marriage and himself.
The film marks Levy’s directorial debut. He also wrote and produced the film, which is a fine outing overall. But if you’re looking for hard laughsin the vein ofSchitt’s Creek,kindly readjust your expectations. You won’t find them here. Levy offers a more mature drama instead, one that occasionally feels too achy for its own good. Still, if you appreciate Levy’s engaging on-screen presence, movies with a stellar cast, and treks through Paris,Good Griefis a fitting post-holiday visit.
The Heart Aches, Maybe Too Much
Dan Levy was most recently seen inHaunted Mansion, The Idol,andSex Education.The death of his grandmother sparked the idea forGood Grief,which serves up several death blows. When we first meet Marc, he seems content with his gregarious husband Oliver, but something stirs underneath the surface. You can see it on Marc’s face, and Levy handles these complex emotional nuances exceptionally. Marc is still coping with the death of his mother some months earlier. He puts on a happy face at a holiday party, but soon after Oliver leaves for a business trip, Marc and his party guests hear a car crash down the London street. It forever changes Marc’s world.
Related:The Best Episodes of Schitt’s Creek, Ranked
Good Griefmakes great use of its supporting cast. Himesh Patel, previously seen inEnola Holmes 2, walks a shaky emotional tightrope here as well, playing Thomas. As Marc’s ex, their friendship is tight, but you sense a lingering thread of hope in Thomas’ eyes that maybe he and Marc can rekindle their former spark. It’s an emotional pang that may never quite get resolved.
Meanwhile, as Marc and Thomas swim deeper waters, pal Sophie splashes delightfully above the fray. But even she has a few emotional barriers to move through. It’s a fine troika to work with, and Levy, so obviously emotionally intelligent, proves himself as a confident director here — somebody who can aptly showcase the emotional intricacies of human beings and the curious dynamics they form in their relationships. That’s both great and challenging for Levy in something beyond a 22-minute comedic episode. At times, it feels as if Levy is too smart for his own good and the soupy emotions offered here would benefit from some levity.
Paris Saves the Day
The film’s second half delivers abrilliant tour through Paris— scenic, fashionable, artistic splendor at its best. This happens one year after Oliver’s death, when Marc finally opens the Christmas card Oliver handed him before the accident. The big “reveal” inside is a shock, sending Marc to Oliver’s Paris apartment. Soon enough, Marc begins to question the entire framework of what he once believed to be a solid marriage. Worse, he realizes he never dealt with his mother’s death. Thomas and Sophie arrive and the three take to Paris for a bit of cheer.
But this film seems to love staying low to the ground. Even when charming Arnaud Valois appears as Theo, a French art connoisseur, Levy relishes hinting there could be something more there between Marc and Theo, but would never dare give Marc a sense of relief. Interesting, because you get the sense that even before the grief, Marc may have appreciated life’s bizarre ironies, to the extent he would laugh at them. Levy does make great use of some absurd moments that befall Marc, but it would’ve been nice to see more of these opportunities.
Related:20 All-Time Best Gay Characters in TV HistoryUltimately,Good Griefis a different kind of gay love story. Up until this point, audiences have been trained to follow plot beats that track a closeted man coming out, an AIDS/HIV character coping with major life transitions, or gay characters fighting for their civil rights. It’s rare to findan LGBTQ storythat tracks the flipside of love — the messy reality every human being faces when confronted with major loss. It’s a bold move on Levy’s part, and despite its overtly bittersweet vibe,Good Griefsomehow gets under your skin and keeps you invested in Marc’s journey. There’s a great deal of heart inGood Grief, which saves this film from sinking too far into emotional depths it cannot emerge from. Thanks to Levy’s shrewd writing and directing choices,Good Griefis a worthy investment.
Good Griefpremieres on Netflix on January 5. you may watch it through the link below:
Watch on Netflix
Good Grief
Good Grief is a comedy-drama film by writer-director Dan Levy, who also stars in the film as protagonist Marc. After Marc’s husband dies suddenly, he and his two best friends head to Paris for some much-needed soul searching - where each of the three is forced to face elements of themselves and their pasts they try to bury away.
