While blockbuster films tend to capture the public’s attention, Goodrich (2024) seeks to present something a lot more heartfelt and down to earth: a profound comedy-drama about parenting, estrangement, and the messy process of growing up at any age. The film was written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, daughter of rom-com royalty Nancy Meyers, which provides a warm, honest, and humorous take on fatherhood and second chances.
At the heart of the transformation is Michael Keaton, who gives a shining performance as Andy Goodrich, a Los Angeles art dealer who is blindsided when he has to singlehandedly raise his toddler twins after his Jinormously younger wife goes to rehab. The film is both an entertaining spectacle and a compassionate representation of flawed people attempting to improve themselves, balanced by sharp dialogue and, justified as good, caring performances.
Plot Summary
Andy Goodrich is a self-absorbed and charming art dealer who is enjoying the kind of semi-retired lifestyle that most people dream of. He lives in a mid-century modern house, attends boisterous gallery openings, and has a social life that offers him little to no obligations as a father. His young twin children, Mose and Billie, are mostly taken care of by his wife, Naomi, until she suddenly decides to check into a rehab facility, leaving Andy to take care of the children 24/7.
Now, Andy has to deal with school pick-ups, homework meltdowns, and the childcare nightmare of bedtimes; something he is completely unprepared for. His carefully crafted life now thrown into utter chaos. To make matters worse, he is forced to turn to his adult daughter from a prior marriage for assistance, – Grace, played by Mila Kunis. To complicate the matters even further, Grace is pregnant with her first child. Like most expectant mothers, she is skeptical at first, but her relationship with Andy makes unwaveringly absent.
Like any other father, Andy must juggle the responsibilities of work and parenting while keeping his art business from failing and his gallery from closing down completely. To cut his losses, he attempts to get the estate of a deceased painter, but to do so he has to win over the daughter of the painter, Lola, who does not trust people easily and makes things difficult for others.
In ‘Goodrich,’ the self-inflicted struggles caused by Andy are all intertwined and bring forth the question of whether he can be redeemed as a father and if he is finally ready to take ownership of the damage inflicted and the life lived in denial.
Characters and Performances
Michael Keaton as Andy Goodrich
Andy’s character is performed by Keaton, who seamlessly embodies the character with vulnerability, charm, and a pinch of comic timing. As with every fiction story under the face value of good and evil, Andy is not the villain, nor is he the saint; he is a deeply flawed man. A pattern, for sure, but wonderfully packed within comedy. However, it’s his ability, or gift rather, to move from making jokes to being emotionally authentic that really makes this film extraordinary.
Mila Kunis as Grace
Grace is a woman who is balancing her impending motherhood with the psychological load of her father’s emotionally charged father-daughter relationship. Kunis captures her emotions tenderly and beautifully. She does not serve merely as Andys’s retort, she is on one of her own journeys, grappling with the possibility of whether the father she wants to give a second chance to is the kind of parent she him the opportunity to become.
Vivien Lyra Blair and Jacob Kopera as Billie and Mose
The twins bring heart along with laughter. They stand as innocent witnesses to their father’s never-ending tumbles but they also serve as motivators for his change. Their existence gives balance to the reality of the situation while also providing aid to ensure that the emotional aspect does not heighten too much.
Benanti Laura as Naomi
Although primarily existing through phone calls alongside few conversations, her presence seems to hold weight. Her absence fairly forces andy into positive growth while her struggle with addiction is also done smoothly and gracefully not overshadowed by the comedy aspect.
Carmen Ejogo as Lola
Lola brings an external conflict in Andy’s life. Challenging his business prowess and his sincerity. Ejogo gives life to a lesser role by so fluidly reflecting Andy in his private as well as public life.
Themes and Tone
Goodrich, at its core, is about redemption, parenting, and emotional growth. For Andy, a man who seems to embody surface-level success with a charismatic personality, relationships required real work which he did not attempt. The film does not reprimand him; instead, it offers him, and the audience, an opportunity to grapple with personal failure and discover new paths to healing.
Fatherhood and Second Chances
A central question of the film explores whether a person can truly change. Andy has missed an opportunity to parent Grace and now has a real shot at attempting to successfully parent Billie and Mose. His efforts are often unsuccessful and quite funny, but deeply relatable.
Generational Gaps and Parenting Styles
The film analyzes more modern versus older emotionally restrictive parenting styles through Grace and Andy’s changing relationship. As a woman who is about to be a parent herself, Grace is forced to confront her memories of childhood and think about what type of mother she hopes to become.
The Business of Art and the Art of Letting Go
Andy’s subplot with the art gallery serves more than a backdrop, it reflects his life. The way he manages the estate of a deceased artist is similar to how he wants to control how his children and daughter perceive him. Control, legacy, and image are all themes that are present in both his work and family life.
Direction and Visual Style
Aesthetic touches are clearly visible in the film and one of them could be attributed to Hallie Meyers-Shyer. The characters and the dialogue take center stage in this film because there is no show-offy direction. Andy’s mid-century home captures his character; it is stylish and curated but has no spirit.
The region of Los Angeles is always sun bright but it clashes with what is happening emotionally inside of the characters, showcasing the contrasting exterior and interior self. While there is a classic romantic comedy polish to it, the emotional side comments on modern family drama suggest a deeper meaning.
Reception and Impact
Goodrich has received acclaim for its storytelling and performances which audiences can easily connect. The intensity of humor interspersed with emotion has also been praised, specifically the multi-layered performance by Keaton. This is a gentle, serene film, not built around surprises, but possesses the ability to leave a lasting impact due to it’s sincerity and grace.
For many, Goodrich is the return of adult dramedies which deal with the emotional complexity in a very humane way.
Conclusion
Goodrich is a mature, funny, and a painful touching account of fatherhood, failure, and the long tortuous process of making amends. With Michael Keaton’s brilliant performance at the front and center of the story, alongside an equally impressive supporting cast, it manages to impart a sense of hope without being overly sentimental. It demonstrates how even after all the harm has been done, there is still some effort which can be made, some chance to turn up and some opportunity to develop.
In a world which often prizes flawlessness, Goodrich reminds us of the unexpected beauty in the difficult road towards a particular goal. At times, it’s precisely what we are seeking for assistance or support.
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