‘Good Grief’ reviews: Dan Levy shows ‘a more poignant and personal side’ in feature directorial debut
On January 5, 2024, “Good Grief” began streaming on Netflix following a week-long limited release in theaters. Emmy winner Dan Levy stars in the film (which he also wrote and directed) and pundits have been impressed, earning the movie a 77% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics consensus reads, “A solid first feature for writer-director Dan Levy, ‘Good Grief’ offers a generally affecting look at love after death whose refreshing sincerity only occasionally veers into sentimentality.”
When his husband unexpectedly dies, Marc’s (Levy) world shatters, sending him and his two best friends on a soul-searching trip to Paris that reveals some hard truths they each needed to face. The ensemble cast includes Oscar nominee Ruth Negga, Emmy nominee Himesh Patel and Luke Evans. Read our full review round-up below.
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Peter Debruge of Variety praises the film, stating, “The first week of January seems a fitting time to release a film about three friends shedding their skin for the next chapter in their lives. Appropriately enough, Levy’s debut also sees him leveling up as a more serious storyteller than we’d given him credit for. It was easy to pigeonhole Levy as a comedic talent, given father Eugene’s improv chops, whereas he shows a more poignant and personal side here.”
Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood Daily notes, “Levy’s ability for directing actors and giving them juicy roles is evident immediately with choice turns by both Negga, sensational as the freewheeling and fun Sophie, and Patel, who is completely believable as he winds himself up in a frenzy at the individual and unexpected actions of his buddies.” Hammond concludes, “It is also a credit to Levy, who lets both of these exceptional actors steal all the scenes they are in. Even though Levy’s Marc is at the center of this, he is somewhat weighed down, having to first play so much grief, and then the complex reaction to the dark situation Oliver has handed him in death.”
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David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter says, “The London and Paris locations are pretty, the likable cast all look stylish in their voluminous coats and slouchy pants and distressed knits, and the countless teary-eyed close-ups are designed to touch our hearts. But Netflix’s ‘Good Grief,’ despite its characters’ extensive soul-dredging, is all surface, perfectly watchable but a little dull. Working both behind and in front of the camera after having cut his teeth directing episodes of ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ Daniel Levy has made a first feature that’s a glossy drama of love and loss and the restorative power of friendship. But it’s more earnest than affecting.”
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com was less impressed, stating, “Levy has a strong on-screen presence—he’s a remarkably natural, likable performer—but he struggles a bit to find his voice as a writer and director with ‘Good Grief,’ a modest study of the impact of loss that pushes a few buttons harder than it should and fails to fill out its ensemble equally. When this well-cast dramedy allows its characters to breathe and simply exist, it highlights Levy’s future strengths as a filmmaker, making it a promising launch for the Emmy winner into the film world, even as I hope he trusts his actors (and his audience) more in future projects.”
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