Goodrich is the kind of mid-budget adult drama that feels increasingly rare in today’s film landscape. Once a staple of the box office, movies like this now struggle to find an audience, often landing as overlooked streaming releases rather than getting a fair shot in theaters. It’s a shame because, while Goodrich isn’t a revelation, it’s a solid, well-acted film that relies on the strength of its cast—especially Michael Keaton—to elevate its familiar premise.
Keaton stars as Andy, a man whose life is thrown into chaos when his wife Naomi (Laura Benanti, in a brief role) checks herself into rehab, leaving him to take care of their two young children. Completely unprepared for the responsibility, Andy leans on his estranged adult daughter Grace (Mila Kunis), who is about to become a parent herself with her husband Pete (Danny Deferrari). Over the course of 90 hectic days, Andy is forced to reassess his role as a father—not just to his younger children, but to Grace, with whom he has a fractured past.
Directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, Goodrich is understated and free of unnecessary embellishments. It’s not particularly flashy in its execution, nor does it try to be more than what it is: a sincere drama about family, regret, and second chances. The film’s greatest asset is Keaton, who delivers one of his most subdued performances in years—perhaps his best since Spotlight. He dials back his usual charm, playing Andy as a quietly overwhelmed man who slowly realizes that the life he thought he was leading is not the one he actually built. Kunis, too, steps out of her usual comedic comfort zone, offering a grounded, thoughtful performance as Grace.
Goodrich isn’t a film that reinvents the wheel, but that’s part of its appeal. It’s a mature, well-crafted story that avoids the extremes of being either exceptional or disastrous, settling instead into that rare middle ground of “good, not great.” There are some heartfelt moments, a few well-placed jokes, and just enough emotional weight to make it worthwhile. While it may not be a movie many will revisit, it’s the kind of thoughtful, character-driven drama that used to be far more common—and one that deserves a place in today’s increasingly franchise-dominated industry.
Score: 6/10
Goodrich (2024)
- Cast: Michael Keaton, Mila Kunis, Carmen Ejogo, Michael Urie, Danny Deferrari, Laura Benanti
- Director: Hallie Meyers-Shyer
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Runtime: 111 minutes
- Rated: R
- Release Date: October 18, 2024
More Movies Starring Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton has starred in the following movies:
- Batman (1989)
- Batman Returns (1992)
- Birdman (2014)
- Spotlight (2015)
- The Flash (2023)
- Knox Goes Away (2024)
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
- Goodrich (2024)
More Movies Starring Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis has starred in the following movies:
- Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
- Black Swan (2010)
- Friends with Benefits (2011)
- Ted (2012)
- Goodrich (2024)