As a person in this world, I would like to say that I am so proud of Daniel Levy. He’s been a joy to the entertainment industry since we saw him in Schitt’s Creek. He was the second best character in that show. (You’re not beating Catherine O’Hara. FOLD THE CHEESE?!) Anyway, Good Grief is the story of Marc, played by Levy, grieving the loss of his beloved Oliver, played by Luke Evans. With his two best friends, Sophie (Ruth Negga) and Thomas (Himesh Patel) in tow, he takes a “casual” trip to Paris to commemorate his anniversary to his deceased husband. What he doesn’t tell this group of misfits is that after Oliver’s death, one year later, he finds that Oliver had a whole separate life in Paris, and the trip is to uncover those secrets.
What I love about films like this is that there is LGBTQ representation but it’s not at the forefront of the film. As an advocate for the LGBTQ community, I love to see minorities on screen living their lives. Marc and Thomas are best friends, used to date, and also happen to be gay. I love that they don’t blatantly tell you this. Marc is married to Oliver and the group talk about how Marc and Thomas used to date (which is also the reason I believe he’s so critical of Marc). It’s the subtitles that intrigue me and kept me engaged with the story.
Every character in this movie, besides the lawyer and Theo, are flawed in some way. Sophie is the wild child of the bunch and understands how her actions affect the group but doesn’t care because…YOLO. Thomas is the overprotective friend. The scene where Sophie was lost in Paris and Marc was out with Theo made me and my best friend say aloud, “Calm down, Thomas. These are not children.” I get it. I’m the overprotective friend in my group, but geez, Thomas. Marc is the rich friend who’s a bit spoiled and needy. It’s not intentional, but he does cling to his friends, and the few moments we do see him with Oliver, he clings to him, too.
As you watch this film, there is a balance of seriousness and funny. Remember when I said the subtitles is what I love about this film? The jokes are not “slap your knee” funny, but the jokes be joking! When Marc says he was spending his time watching the paramedics and fireman peel his dead husband out of the cab like escargot WAS HILARIOUS TO ME and it was supposed to be. Marc and Luca having their conversation about Oliver and Luca wanting to hug Marc afterwards was the awkward joke we needed to break up that seriousness.
Films like this, although fictional, are a reflection of someone’s real life. Maybe they didn’t go to Paris, but they have a dysfunctional group of friends. Maybe they don’t live in London with their author husband, but someone close to them, say their mom, died in an unexpected way and they clung to the closest people to them to cope. Maybe it was a little too long like Marc or maybe it wasn’t long enough and they are the Sophie of the group. I felt like I was just watching someone’s real life play out on my best friend’s TV. When the group fell apart, I fell apart with them. Movies that have the ability to do this without making it feel like you need to feel what the characters feel is rare! And in the end, we got to see Marc’s full journey of grief. It wasn’t clean. It wasn’t easy but it was his path and he made it.
One thing I hated about this film is that Theo completely disappeared. Where did he go Daniel?! I want answers! He and Marc were so nice together, and I love how this complete stranger seemed to mesh so well with Marc in his time of bereavement….almost too perfect, but I overlooked it. I didn’t take points off.
Tell me what you thought about this film. It’s not an outright tearjerker, but if you’re prone to crying, grab your tissues. How do you relate to Marc and his friends? Are you the rich friend who’s a bit too clingy? Yeah, movie, I saw you called me out. I ain’t like it…
