Good Grief - A Netflix Movie Review

Sometimes you lose sight of what’s going on around you.

Good Grief is a 2024 Netflix film. After the sudden death of his husband, Marc grieves the loss. During this difficult year, he discovers secrets. Traveling to Paris with his two best friends, Marc is determined to learn the truth.

Good Grief focuses on a topic that we’ve all processed differently, especially me. It’s an emotional drama that supplies the message and talents but storywise, Good Grief meanders and has missed potential.

Dan Levy has made his talents known as David Rose on the hit sitcom, Schitt’s Creek. Along with playing the main character Marc, Levy wrote and directed Good Grief. Levy is an outstanding actor. He expresses a multitude of raw emotions with his incredible countenance. Marc battles grief, hindering him from his passions and being able to trust again.

The friendship between Marc, Sophie, and Thomas (Ruth Negga and Himesh Patel) is the best part of the movie. The trio spent two weeks developing their dynamic to make a believable friendship. The dialogue flows naturally between them. Negga is hilarious in her performance as Sophie, though her storyline felt unfinished in some parts.

The trio’s friendship is a genuine depiction that includes moments where they bicker. Friendship isn’t always laughter and deep chats at night. You have arguments. At least we learn from each other. Friends will always be here for you. They’re constantly joking around trying to lift each other’s spirits.

Luke Evans has a small part as Oliver. Marc’s lawyer, Imelda (Celia Imrie) may seem cold until she opens up about her own battles. In my opinion, Duncan (David Bradley) deserved more time in the story. Bradley delivers a heartfelt monologue about his late son. More credits include Arnaud Valois, Mehdi Baki, Kaitlin Dever, and Yoli Fuller.

The main theme of the film is grief and how Marc handles it but there could have been more to the story. It had the potential for more. The writing is straightforward and doesn’t experiment with new ideas. The concept is original, featuring LGBTQ representation only to feel underwhelming. Story elements could have been explored more profoundly.

Since Marc’s grief is the main priority of the story, we should have checked in with Oliver’s father, Duncan. How does he feel about his son’s decisions? The story missed an opportunity there.

The filmmaking is excellent. Levy achieves notable camera work, particularly in the beginning when the traumatic event happens. It was Levy’s idea to tint the screen in a sad hue to match the story. He found remarkable locations in London and Paris to film in. Levy is coming into his own as a filmmaker and I look forward to what he does next.

I related to this film on so many levels. The story takes an unconventional approach to grief, delving into the complexities of forgiveness and redemption. Grief hits us all differently. Like Marc, I also stopped drawing when my late aunt passed away. Even though things get better, you still feel it but you learn how to move forward.

Take the time you need to grieve but always reach out to the people you love. As the movie signifies, sometimes the deceased leave behind things they weren’t sure how to tell people. Honesty is hard in these situations but the worst thing you can do is hold your emotions inside. You are not alone.

The film is sad but it also makes you laugh and feel a sense of hope. Take a look at Good Grief streaming on Netflix.