Don’t Say Good Luck – Netflix – 1 hour and 50 minutes
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Sophie accidentally burns herself with a curling iron while practicing her solo. Her mother, Elizabeth, helps her mask her burn with a hairdo. Sophie’s nervous because she’s auditioning for her school’s production of Waitress (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Elizabeth assures Sophie she will get the part. After a funny butt dial from her dad, Ted, Sophie goes to school.
Sophie sits in class and counts down the minutes before the audition. She runs to the theater and anxiously waits her turn with her best friend, Carolyn. Sophie assumes Mallory will get the lead, so she hopes to get the part of Dawn. Before her audition, she runs to the bathroom to practice one more time. As Sophie sings in the mirror, she gets a butt dial from Ted. She overhears her parents talking in the doctor’s office. Elizabeth’s cancer has returned. Sophie hangs up the phone, cries, and returns to the theater. It’s her turn to audition, but everyone can see she is visibly upset. She tells Carolyn the truth but no one else. Assuming Sophie is nervous, Mallory sits in front of her to teach Sophie breathing exercises. Sophie walks onto the stage and sings When He Sees Me (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). When Sophie returns home, Ted and Elizabeth don’t talk about the doctor’s visit, and she keeps quiet too.
At school, Sophie discovers she’s the lead and is the first sophomore to join the summer intensive. She runs to her parents’ deli to tell them. They sing Tomorrow (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Then, Elizabeth sees the sadness in Sophie’s eyes. Elizabeth and Sophie sit in Elizabeth’s car to talk. Sophie confesses that she knows the cancer is back. She doesn’t want to sing if her mom can’t make it. Elizabeth tells Sophie everything will be the same. They will take their annual trip, throw the deli’s Mother’s Day brunch, and watch Sophie perform. Sophie agrees to take the part. This decision will challenge the entire family and push Sophie to endure and grow.
This coming-of-age film is a tear-jerker. The script created well-rounded characters and fully expressed their points of view. Unlike other films, the writer didn’t make Sophie an entitled brat. Her first concern is Elizabeth. The writer made Elizabeth a loving and scared mother, and Ted a caring and devoted father. Even Grandma Linda and Carolyn have redemption arcs. Surprisingly, the writers made everyone’s need to care the issue. Each character has a fear that they hold inside to protect someone else. Once they let go, their connection grows, and Sophie gains strength she didn’t know she had. This film doesn’t need camera angles, action, or explosions to entertain, just a well-written script and awe-inspiring performances. The director created some astounding montages that aligned Sophie’s life with the play. It’s so impeccably done that you don’t know it’s happening. And the jokes are heartwarming. This film is worth several viewings and a box of tissues.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars
Is ‘it’ your mom – Ted
Ms. Parker didn’t make a mistake – Elizabeth
Can you please stop butt dialing me – Sophie
You got this – Mallory
I’m here for you, always – Carolyn
Sophie, you have to kiss him – Ms. Parker
Is that what they call it these days? – Dale
I will. I promise, I will – Linda
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Categories: Bebe Neuwirth, Don't Say Good Luck, Max Greenfield, Melanie Lynskey, movie, Netflix, review, Stephanie Beatriz, Steve Buscemi, Sunny Sandler, VOD
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