Daniel Levy emerges from the heart-on-sleeve heat of Schitt’s Creek, the TV present he co-created along with his father Eugene, and paddles into the troubled waters of a sombre characteristic movie directorial debut, shot on location in London and Paris.
Good Grief is a bittersweet symphony to like, memory and misplaced unhappiness, set virtually one yr after Levy’s painter turned illustrator has witnessed the Christmastime demise of his best-selling novelist husband (Luke Evans) en path to a ebook signing on the Louvre.
The tragic anniversary prompts a cathartic weekend getaway to Paris with two finest pals: Ruth Negga’s self-anointed “scorching mess” and Himesh Patel’s quietly craving outdated flame, who should have Teflon fingers from holding a torch for 15 years. Their good-humoured interactions set in movement a domino cascade of painful residence truths, reconciliations and self-improvement.
Good Grief quantities to lower than the sum of its affecting particular person scenes, together with an ageing father’s poignant eulogy to his solely little one. The central trio share convincing display screen chemistry as privileged friends in emotional freefall.
Celia Imrie delivers a barnstorming monologue with tear-glistened eyes because the late creator’s monetary adviser, who is aware of the corrosive impact of grief on these left behind, however investing 100 minutes in Levy’s heartfelt image yields a modest return.