Good Grief – A Familiar Grief Dramedy

The theme of grief is a universal theme tackled across countless films and television series. Something that is inherently emotional, the best work harnesses that emotion in a way that feels real and genuine in order to engage audiences. That being said, audiences have experienced grief being addressed in so many different ways that is starts to become repetitive. However, it does not make those platitudes any less important. While still well-intentioned, what Good Grief lacks in originality, it makes up for in earnestness. Dan Levy, the mind behind such works as Schitt’s Creek, brings his talents to the world of film in his feature film writing and directorial debut in a film where he also stars and produces. A dramedy, he does a decent job at balancing different tones to tell a tender story about grief that is not only wholesome but also full of heart. Though it may not bring anything new to the table, what makes the film still work in spite of the material is the dynamic of Levy, Ruth Negga, and Himesh Patel as a trio of friends who are a blast to watch together over what would be a journey of self-rediscovery that looked to put their close relationship to the test.

Good Grief takes place in London and follows Marc (Levy), an artist whose life is turned upside down after the unexpected death of his husband Oliver (Luke Evans). Trying to move forward and settle the affairs of his late husband, he uncovered a potential secret life in Paris that made him start to question everything he thought he knew about him. Supporting Marc through it all was his best friends Sophie (Negga) and Thomas (Patel) for whom he was inextricably linked. Wanting to investigate, he brought his friends along under the guise of a vacation and while the three had fun together in Paris, that distraction slowly made way for reality as the truth eventually surfaced. However, Marc was not the only one looking to get away from his past issues with relationships. Perhaps it was their shared flaws and dysfunctional lives that brought Marc, Sophie, and Thomas together, but their inability to slow down and address their respective issues arguably contributed to their compartmentalized behavior where they mostly keep their feelings to themselves.

Getting to that realization came with plenty of self-reflection as Marc, Sophie, and Thomas were faced with the root of their issues. While these journeys were somewhat compelling to watch, at the end of the day, the story was about Marc learning to open himself up to love again instead of shutting himself down to avoid the possibility of loving and losing someone else. Not necessarily treading any new ground in terms of conclusions, the strength of the characters themselves, and the emotional connection they create early on, still ensure a decent emotional payoff, albeit a predictable one. Ultimately, there is just not that much more to it. As a result, those looking for more depth may be left a little disappointed. However, those looking for lighter fare with a touch of seriousness, this film may fit the bill.

The best part of Good Grief and what holds the film together are the performances of Levy, Negga, and Patel and their great chemistry. In spite of the familiar material, the three are an absolute blast to watch together as a trio of friends who razz each other but also care deeply for one another. While they shared countless fun moments together, the film also allowed them moments to dive down deeper into their characters in compelling fashion with Levy of course leading the way. Showing some range, he brings a hint of melancholy and sadness to his unusually subdued character compared to what audiences are used to seeing from him. The humanity and genuineness of Marc made him an easy character to connect to. Negga and Patel, to a lesser extent, take the same path as Sophie and Thomas as the dynamic between the friends is broken down before coming back together.

In the end, Good Grief  is a decent dramedy that may not tread new ground emotionally but in spite of that, succeeds off of strong writing and characters.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.