Anthony Digioia Drama

‘GOOD GRIEF’ (Review) A Heartfelt Story of Love, Grief, and Acceptance

Most would agree Daniel Levy was a comedic force in Schitt’s Creek. But with his first-feature film Good Grief coming to Netflix this week he’s attempting to showcase his grace within the genre of drama. Levy writes, directs, and stars in this film as Marc, a man who finds his world in shambles when his husband Oliver is tragically killed while leaving a holiday party. A year later Marc has discovered a secret about his partner that unravels everything he thought he knew and causes him to question everything he thought he was supposed to be feeling.

Now I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when sitting down for Good Grief. I wasn’t sure if this film would lean into more of the humor which is Levy’s natural strong suit, or if it would hover in the realm of melodrama. What I wasn’t expecting however was for this film to grab my emotional cords as easily as it was able to. Levy’s script is not without its hindrances but the strengths in his writing are able to craft a contemporary story of grief, betrayal, and acceptance, with authentic characters that can intrigue. Good Grief feels like real-life; it follows its own path for the most part, and it gives the film an appealing fly-on-the-wall feel while watching.

Good Grief. (L to R) Jamael Westman as Terrance, Himesh Patel as Thomas, Ruth Negga as Sophie and Daniel Levy (writer/director/producer) stars as Marc and in Good Grief. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

We learn more about Marc as the story progresses and he navigates his grief as well as the new found information about his deceased husband Oliver. An added wrinkle that completely shatters the fabric of the life he is currently grieving. So, it’s easy to connect to Marc. To feel his pain and to feel his betrayal. Levy’s performance is able to break your heart then slowly reconstruct it as he explores the next unknown step in his life while still contemplating the effects of his past. You really do need to connect to the main character and their journey in a film like this and Levy with his natural charm and genuine screen-presence is able to deliver just that.

Ruth Negga and Himesh Patel play Marc’s best friends. Each has their own life issues that are briefly touched upon and that is where Good Grief can get a little thin for some. I wanted to know more about these characters. For the needs of the film, you can connect to the love Sophie and Thomas have for Marc, you can relate to them being there for their friend during difficult times while still having their own problems. The characters are certainly elevated through the performances of Negga and Patel but outside of that they serve little for the film outside of being Marc’s support system. This is where the fly-on-the-wall atmosphere of this movie may not work for everyone.

Good Grief. (L to R) Himesh Patel as Thomas and Daniel Levy (writer/director/producer) stars as Marc in Good Grief. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

Levy’s script gives Marc an added subplot of a new potential love interest and in my opinion, this could have been trimmed back to allow our main character to gain his independence during a pivotal rebuilding period in his life. Rather than feeling like he’s repeating a cycle. This would have also allowed the focus of the plot to remain more on Marc and his friendships with Sophie and Thomas, letting us get to know them as much as Marc. This is without question a theme Levy wanted to visit with Good Grief and I think going deeper into Sophie and Thomas to let us more into their lives as well, would have given their impact as a tight trio a much stronger punch. The closing is satisfying, but the deeper core elements of their friendships being peeled back would have provided a boost of intrigue during the middle act where it was needed.

Good Grief has its lulls as a few scenes run longer than needed. But as a compelling drama that feels modern, and authentic, this is a success. The use of music is fantastic and serves as the pulse of the film at times and it fits the mood and vibe of the story so well. This movie has a lived-in feel that’s cozy for an intimate story such as this one. It’s smart, very well acted and certainly worth a watch. Just bring your tissues.

Grade: 8/10

CAST: Daniel Levy, Ruth Negga, Himesh Patel, Celie Imrie, Luke Evans, Arnaud Valois, David Bradley, Mehdi Baki, Kaitlyn Dever  DIRECTOR: Dan Levy  WRITER(S): Dan Levy  DISTRIBUTOR: Netflix  RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes  RATING: R (For language and brief drug use)  YEAR: 2024  LANGUAGE: English  GENRE: Comedy/Drama/Romance

Anthony J. Digioia II © 2024 SilverScreen Analysis
Good Grief. (L to R) Himesh Patel as Thomas and Daniel Levy (writer/director/producer) stars as Marc in Good Grief. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.
Good Grief. (L to R) Yoli Fuller as Sebastian and Ruth Negga as Sophie in Good Grief. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.
Good Grief. (L to R) Jamael Westman as Terrance, Himesh Patel as Thomas, Ruth Negga as Sophie and Daniel Levy (writer/director/producer) stars as Marc and in Good Grief. Cr. Credit: Chris Baker / Netflix © 2023.
Good Grief. (L to R) Daniel Levy (writer/director/producer) stars as Marc and Arnaud Valois as Theo in Good Grief. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.