Michael Keaton has a 73-year-old's midlife crisis in Goodrich, a melodramatic comedy with no surprises, one-note characters, and unrealistic dialogue. The premise has the owner of a struggling boutique art gallery forced to raise his young children when his second wife absconds to rehab. Complications arise even further as his pregnant adult daughter feels slighted by his newfound attention to her half-siblings. It's a sitcom blended into a soap opera smoothie with a saccharine aftertaste.
Andy Goodrich (Keaton) gets a late night call in his sprawling modern mansion. He's stunned to hear from his wife Naomi (Laura Benanti). Andy honestly thought she was asleep in bed beside him. The shock continues after she confesses to being addicted to drugs, and has checked herself into a posh rehab facility for 90 days. Andy finds this difficult to believe. How did he not know she was drinking and abusing prescription drugs?
Naomi excoriates him for being an absentee father and husband. Andy's so preoccupied with his business that he was completely ignorant to something that should have been plain as day. Naomi throws down the gauntlet before hanging up. Their nine-year-old twins are now his responsibility for the next three months. It's time for him to accept responsibility and be present in his children's lives.
Goodrich Strains Credulity with Its Setup Alone
When Andy Goodrich's wife enters rehab, he’s left to care for their young twins alone. As he navigates modern parenthood, he relies on his daughter Grace from his first marriage, ultimately becoming the father she never had.
- Release Date
- October 18, 2024
- Director
- Hallie Meyers-Shyer
- Runtime
- 111 Minutes
- Writers
- Hallie Meyers-Shyer
Andy races to Malibu after calling the kids' babysitter for an emergency situation. He's dumbfounded when the facility refuses to let him see his wife. Naomi banned him from any contact. Andy's panic increases when he gets a call from the school administrator. He forgot to pick up the twins. Meanwhile, at the obstetrician, his daughter Grace (Mila Kunis) looks at her baby's ultrasound and ignores her father's repeated calls.
Goodrich has a setup that's problematic from the start. Writer/director Hallie Meyers-Shyer (Home Again) has Naomi abandoning her beloved children to a father who's never changed a diaper, fixed a meal, or read a bedtime story in their lives. We're meant to assume she's had a breakdown and both needs self-care and wants Andy to learn the true meaning of parenting through a trial by fire. That works on paper in fantasy land, but seems pretty far-fetched for a mother who's been their primary caregiver from birth. It would have been more believable if Naomi left them with someone she trusts, but then the film's primary arc falls apart.
Andy's financial difficulties loom over his family's meltdown. His supposedly small gallery sits in a massive two-story office with enough employees to run a Best Buy. Sy (Kevin Pollak), his best friend and business manager, warns they can't borrow any more money or risk losing everything. Andy refuses to downsize because he's been there for decades and doesn't want to fire anyone. That makes sense and is a noble gesture, but again strains practical credulity. Andy's luxurious house has a beautiful backyard and swimming pool...in Southern California...where the median price for a modest two-bedroom is $1.2 million dollars. It's understandable that Andy wants to keep up appearances, but the idea he's broke is laughable.
A Good Father-Daughter Relationship (And a Great Vivien Lyra Blair)
Goodrich's best aspect is Andy's relationship with Grace, the daughter from his first marriage. He's always loved and cherished her, but just like his current crop, wasn't present for her childhood. Grace's resentment and feelings of abandonment are legitimate. She's upset at having to spring into action to help with the twins when no one did the same for her. Grace helps, of course, but is rightly indignant and somewhat jealous of the attention she never received. It doesn't help that Andy keeps confusing her name with Billie (Vivien Lyra Blair), his precocious younger daughter.
Blair's a scene-stealer, calling out her dad for his mistakes, and not quite believing the fake story he concocts about her mother's sudden disappearance. Blair, who played the young Princess Leia in the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ miniseries, has a formidable screen presence. But she completely overshadows her brother Mose (Jacob Kopera), who's pretty much a prop and an inconsequential mute in the background.
A Slog with Unrealistic Monologues
Goodrich's most glaring flaw is that every character spouts a ridiculous monologue in their designated cathartic moment. The best analogy is a jazz ensemble where each musician has a long solo to strut their stuff. That may work in a smoky lounge act, but it is totally contrived here. You can easily predict when each actor will grab the spotlight to unload their baggage. Meyers-Shyer should have had a violin playing in the background for greater comedic effect.
Keaton can't save the film with pure likability. He's a known commodity and fan favorite who's embraced in any role. You give him the benefit of the doubt because of familiarity and star power. But Andy's obvious journey to dad glory is a sappy slog despite Keaton's efforts. Goodrich is a production of C2 Motion Picture Group and Stay Gold Features. It will be released theatrically from Ketchup Entertainment on October 18th.
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