Thought-provoking ‘Good’ isn’t just good, it’s great
Have you ever felt like the odd person out? The one who is often omitted from the conversation, the one not in on the joke, the one less valued? Welcome to Sam’s world, as the ever-flustered 17-year-old finds herself trapped on a three-day camping trip with her clueless dad and Pop’s boorish, sad-sack best friend.
That’s the intriguing setup for writer-director India Donaldson’s debut feature, “Good One.” And it is, indeed, that – a good one, a movie bristling with chauvinism and microaggression, all “innocently” directed toward a high school senior who begins to see her dad as more of an enemy than a parent. I suppose this phenomenon has happened to a lot of us, including Donaldson, whose film feels so real and lived in that it’s impossible not to believe it evolved from somewhere deep inside.
I couldn’t help thinking of Sam (fabulous newcomer Lily Collias) as her surrogate, a whip-smart, keenly aware teenager who’s about to be ganged up on by her divorced father, Chris (James Le Gros), and Dad’s oldest, most obnoxious pal, Matt (Danny McCarthy), as they depart New York City for the Catskills to “enjoy” three days of nature and companionship.
It’s not exactly what Sam signed up for. The plan was to be a foursome including Matt’s teenage son, Dylan (Julian Grady). But he’s become so angered by his recently divorced dad’s callous behavior, that he backs out at the last minute, leaving Sam in the three-day fix she’s in. You feel for her, too, as you watch Collias’ hugely expressive face fall in the backseat of Chris’ Subaru SUV.
What ensues is a masterclass in screenwriting and scene-setting, as Donaldson cleverly contrasts the beauty of the great outdoors with the ugliness inside men’s hearts. The indignities directed toward Sam begin subtly, with creepy “dad jokes” and digs directed toward what and how much she eats. By the end of day two, and well into day three, they reach full-blown betrayal, as Matt casually reveals just how big a pig he is. But that’s not the worst. It’s how her dad reacts to it all.
There’s no doubt Chris loves his daughter. It’s just he has a weird way of showing it. Like being surprised by how surprised Sam is when he asks her about her college plans. But when you’re supporting a newer, much younger wife and a small child, it’s not surprising that his eldest has become somewhat of an afterthought.
The beauty of “Good One” is in how it reveals how so much hostility can so easily be camouflaged by good intentions. Is this outing meant to bring Chris closer to his daughter, or is it to ease his troubled conscience over how grossly he’s ignored her since the divorce? The answer would seem obvious, but Le Gros is such a terrific actor, that you’re never quite sure where Chris is coming from.
He’s an ideal match for Collias, a real find, who rarely talks but speaks volumes with her exasperated looks and sarcastic eye-rolls. Just wait until it’s time for Sam to wield the coup de grȃce. It’s a tour de force rendering the film’s final 15 minutes a signature statement against loutish men. You’ll cheer. More importantly, you’ll laugh as Sam craftily turns the tables.
Even at a brisk 89 minutes, Donaldson never feels the urge to rush, nor does she feel the need to explain. It’s all there right before you to interpret as you see fit. But patience is a must. Donaldson is not out to please, she’s out to make noise, a generational voice advocating for doing away with the old and ushering in the new. I, for one, find her moxie invigorating and every bit as refreshing as the rushing mountain streams that cleanse Sam’s soul.
Movie review
Good One
Rated: R for language
Cast: Lily Collias, James Le Gros and Danny McCarthy
Director: India Donaldson
Writer: India Donaldson
Runtime: 89 minutes
Where: In theaters Aug. 16
Grade: B+
