Michael Keaton has amazed audiences countless times over the years with his versatility, but one of his most notable returns was in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice, where he reprised his iconic role as the mischievous ghost.
Despite being 73, Keaton remains timeless in his ability to transform into any role, whether it’s a comedic character or a dark, complex hero. The actor, known for his ability to fully immerse himself in characters, continues to be a favorite in Hollywood, and his recent work in the film Goodrich is no exception.
In this movie, Keaton offers yet another memorable performance, proving that he can still bring depth and heart to any role, even when the story doesn’t quite live up to his potential.
Keaton is, of course, famous for his role as Batman in Tim Burton’s Batman and his brilliant portrayal of a washed-up actor in Birdman, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. But what’s truly remarkable about Keaton is his versatility.
While he is often recognized for larger-than-life characters, he is also an accomplished dramatic actor capable of portraying ordinary people facing complex, emotional situations. This ability to be both larger than life and grounded makes him the perfect lead for a film like Goodrich, a simple, heartfelt story that deals with aging, family, and personal growth.
Goodrich, written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, is not a superhero movie or a supernatural thriller. Instead, it focuses on a man in his 70s facing the difficult realities of life, relationships, and his role as a father and husband.
The film is not a groundbreaking work of cinema, but Keaton’s performance brings depth to a story that might otherwise feel predictable. The film offers a cozy, familiar vibe, with a storyline you can see coming from a mile away. However, it’s the moments of sincerity and emotional depth, highlighted by Keaton’s performance, that give the film its heart and make it worth watching.
The Plot of Goodrich
The story of Goodrich centers on Andy Goodrich (played by Michael Keaton), an art dealer whose life seems to be falling apart. At the start of the film, Andy is woken up by a phone call from his wife, Naomi (Laura Bentani).
He is shocked to learn that she has checked herself into a 90-day rehab facility to treat a prescription pill addiction, something he had no idea she was struggling with, despite everyone else around him knowing.
Naomi also tells Andy that she wants a divorce because he hasn’t been attentive to her, which further blindsides him. This moment sets off a chain of events that forces Andy to reevaluate his life and relationships.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Andy is not only dealing with the collapse of his marriage but is also struggling with being a temporary single father.
Naomi’s time away means that Andy must take care of their nine-year-old twins, Billie (Vivien Lyra Blair) and Mose (Jacob Kopera), while trying to balance his career and personal life. The strain of taking care of his kids, while also trying to salvage his art dealership, adds further pressure on Andy, who is clearly overwhelmed.
At the same time, Andy’s relationship with his first family is also strained. His first wife, Annie (Andie MacDowell), had a daughter, Grace (Mila Kunis), with whom Andy has a distant relationship. Grace, now married and pregnant, has been affected by her father’s absence when she was younger.
However, when Andy needs help with his kids, Grace reluctantly steps in, and their relationship begins to evolve as they are forced to spend more time together. This situation grows even more complicated as Andy’s art dealership faces potential bankruptcy, adding to the already high emotional stakes of his life.
The Strengths of Goodrich
While the premise of Goodrich is not groundbreaking, it taps into themes that are relatable for many people, particularly older viewers. The film shows the idea of personal growth later in life, the consequences of neglecting relationships, and the challenges of raising children when you’ve already made many mistakes in the past.
Andy’s journey is a coming-of-age story for someone in his 70s, which makes it unique. In the final years of his life, Andy is forced to confront the choices he’s made and try to mend the relationships that have been damaged along the way. This scheme of regret, redemption, and growth gives the film emotional weight.
What really upgrades the movie is Michael Keaton’s performance. Andy is not a typical character you see in family dramedies. He is flawed, human, and often makes mistakes. However, he is also deeply loving and committed to trying his best for his family, even when it feels like everything is falling apart around him.
Keaton plays Andy with such depth that you can’t help but root for him, even when his actions sometimes frustrate you. Keaton doesn’t rely on over-the-top gestures or melodramatic speeches. Instead, he conveys Andy’s pain, love, and regret with subtlety and nuance, making his performance feel incredibly real.
The supporting cast is also excellent, with Mila Kunis bringing depth to her role as Grace. Kunis plays a daughter who is trying to find her own way while grappling with the emotional baggage of her relationship with her father.
The chemistry between Keaton and Kunis is palpable, and their scenes together are some of the most emotional in the film. The young actors who play Andy’s children, Billie and Mose, also do an excellent job, with Vivien Lyra Blair standing out as Billie, a wise-beyond-her-years little girl who isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
One of the film’s most touching moments comes during a scene between Andy and Grace. Grace is pregnant, and there’s an emotional tension between the two of them that boils over in a conversation about their past.
Andy, who has been emotionally distant for most of his life, finally opens up in a way that is both heart-wrenching and healing.
The film handles these moments of reconciliation with care, never feeling too forced or overly sentimental. It’s a testament to Keaton’s skill as an actor that he is able to play these emotional beats without feeling like he’s trying to manipulate the audience into feeling something.
The Flaws of Goodrich
Despite its strengths, Goodrich does fall into some familiar tropes of family dramedies. For example, there is an entirely predictable subplot involving a friendship that Andy forms with Pete (Michael Urie), a gay single father.
While this friendship provides some lighthearted moments and offers a chance for Andy to reflect on his own life, it sometimes feels like an easy way to move the plot forward.
Pete often serves as a sounding board for Andy to talk about his feelings, and their friendship sometimes feels more like a plot device than a fully realized relationship.
The film also leans heavily on familiar musical cues to tell the audience how they should feel. Soft piano and guitar music underscore many of the film’s most emotional moments, sometimes tipping into the territory of emotional manipulation.
While the film’s sentimentality can be effective at times, there are moments when it feels like it’s trying a bit too hard to tug at the heartstrings. The Christmas setting in the final act, complete with Christmas music, further enhances this feeling of predictability. While this may work for some viewers, it might come off as formulaic for others.
Keaton’s Timeless Appeal
One of the things that keeps Goodrich from falling into the trap of being a forgettable family dramedy is Michael Keaton’s performance. Keaton’s ability to play a character with such emotional depth is what makes the film work. He doesn’t need to rely on grand gestures or heavy-handed dialogue.
Instead, he can convey so much with just a look or a subtle change in expression. This quiet mastery of his craft is what has made Keaton a beloved actor for decades, and Goodrich is just another example of his ability to upgrade a film.
In fact, the movie might not have worked nearly as well with another actor in the lead role. Keaton’s grounded approach to the character of Andy gives the film a sense of authenticity that it wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Even though the story is predictable and filled with family drama clichés, Keaton’s performance keeps it from feeling like a paint-by-numbers story. He makes Andy’s journey feel real, and his ability to convey pain and vulnerability without resorting to melodrama is what makes Goodrich worth watching.
Conclusion
While Goodrich may not be the most groundbreaking film of the year, it is a heartfelt, sweet story that works largely because of Michael Keaton’s exceptional performance.
The film’s plot may be predictable at times, and it does rely on a few familiar tropes, but Keaton’s portrayal of a man facing the final chapters of his life gives the film a depth that makes it stand out.
If you’re looking for a feel-good movie with real emotional moments, Goodrich is worth seeing. It’s another reminder of just how lucky we are to witness an actor like Michael Keaton, who can make even the most familiar of stories feel fresh and meaningful.
