On November 7, Russian cinemas will host the heartfelt dramedy 'Goodrich' with Michael Keaton about the difficulties of fatherhood. About the all-encompassing charm of the new release — in our review

Andy Goodrich (Michael Keaton) is the owner of a once-famous, now unprofitable gallery in downtown Los Angeles. People like Andy are said to be married to their work and oblivious to everything else. In this case, it's not far from the truth. When his second wife Naomi (Laura Benanti) decides to undergo rehabilitation in rehab to get off the pills, the very fact of his spouse's addiction comes as a big surprise to him. During a call, she tells Andy she is leaving him.

Misfortunes pile up on Goodrich one after another: the art business is on the verge of bankruptcy due to an outflow of artists, his marriage is falling apart, and his children think they are not getting enough attention. He has no choice but to ask for help from his eldest daughter, Grace (Mila Kunis). Though she could use some help herself: she is pregnant and preparing to become a mother.

'Goodrich' is the new work of Hallie Meyers-Shyer, a hereditary Hollywood director. Her father, Charles Shyer, is known as the author of many fine romantic and family comedies, such as 'Alfie' with Jude Law, 'The Parent Trap' with Lindsay Lohan, and the 'Father of the Bride' duology with Steve Martin. Hallie's mother, Nancy Jane Meyers, is a renowned screenwriter with Golden Globe and Oscar nominations to her name.

Such lineage could not but affect Hallie's work. So far, her filmography includes only two films — 'The Last Word' and 'Goodrich', but a certain trend is already emerging. In both cases, the setting is sunny LA, and the plot centers on people connected to art. A common theme in her films is also the family motif.

'Goodrich' surpasses Meyers-Shyer's debut film in many aspects: critics once mercilessly panned that one for lacking individuality and having a weak, superficial script. The new film, released after a seven-year hiatus in Hallie's career, is already much better. The story can at least be called gripping and charming.

The protagonist, played by Michael Keaton, is failing in seemingly every area of life. This pushes him to reassess his life priorities. The question 'Isn't it too late?' that runs through the entire film gets a natural answer in the finale: it's never too late!

During his wife's stay at the rehabilitation center, Andy Goodrich undergoes a kind of therapy himself: he begins to appreciate what he previously overlooked, tries to spend more time with family, and makes new acquaintances. Particularly touching is the storyline of his friendship with Terry (Michael Urie), the father of the twins' classmate. His wife left him, and now he has to raise a child diagnosed with epilepsy alone.

Terry is an extremely emotional dad who sometimes finds it hard to hold back tears when it comes to his son or the breakup with his beloved. Andy, on the other hand, tries his best not to show his feelings, though in reality, he is not immune to them either.

Michael Keaton is the best thing in this film. After his wild infernal performance in Burton's 'Beetlejuice' sequel, it's somewhat unusual to see him in such a restrained and sad role. He steals the show with his charm and wit. The same can be said for Mila Kunis, a talented actress who often ends up in various B-grade comedies.

As for the comedic component, 'Goodrich' is a dramedy with an emphasis on the first part of that word. Although, of course, there are a couple of laugh-out-loud moments, mostly related to the protagonist's ideas about spending time with his children. Goodrich has no idea how to entertain them, so as a movie for the evening, he chooses 'Casablanca' by Michael Curtiz (respect!), and for Halloween, he dresses them as Frida Kahlo and Andy Warhol.

However, the concentration of fun noticeably decreases as the finale approaches, and the film turns into a life-affirming melodrama. Hallie Meyers-Shyer pulls the right strings of the soul, breaking both the viewer and the central character into strong emotions. Nevertheless, even in the ending, the action does not turn into a saccharine tearjerker, largely due to the quality dramaturgy.

'Goodrich' is an extremely cozy film that can brighten an evening after a hard day's work, leaving a pleasant aftertaste. Of course, viewers are unlikely to get a 'wow effect' from watching it, but they will spend almost two hours in the company of the charming Michael Keaton and may want to look at their own lives differently.

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