Review: Goodrich 2024 A Man Who Unexpectedly Becomes A Single Father

"GOODRICH", watch on Afdah, tells the story of a man who unexpectedly becomes a single father (albeit temporarily) while trying to save his business.

There is not necessarily a right way to be a parent, but there is certainly a wrong way. Many parents with busy jobs don't spend enough time at home, missing out on important childhood moments and realizing too late that their older children resent not being at home. In addition to potentially trying to repair relationships with existing children, some have the option of starting over with a new family, but of course this brings additional complications. In "Goodrich," a man tries to be there for his young twins and his adult daughter who is pregnant with her first child.

Andy Goodrich (Michael Keaton) owns a once hugely successful gallery that is now on the verge of closing down. Adding to his stress is the news that his wife has been unexpectedly admitted to a rehab clinic and now he must care for his 9-year-old twins alone. Andy has a good relationship with his pregnant daughter Grace (Mila Kunis), but he wasn't around her much when she was growing up and is trying his best to avoid that mistake this time around. Now Andy must juggle parent-teacher conferences, play dates, baby clothes shopping, doctor's appointments and more, all while trying to secure exhibition rights to a recently deceased artist's work in order to save the gallery.

The film's focus is on Andy's earnest attempts to make it all happen, with the help of a flexible babysitter. But kids of divorce are more likely to empathize with Grace's perspective, a caring father looking after the twins Andy never had at their age. Even now, she reluctantly forgives him every time he introduces her to a new family member, which drives another painful nail into the wall of her disappointment. But she can't blame him for allowing him to be there for her, either, because he constantly shows her how much he loves her. Kunis' casting is well done, conveying the nuances of Grace's emotions with a single facial expression: "Of course I can't expect Andy not to visit my sick child, but I'm equally disappointed that he's canceling our plans again." Watch.

Apart from that, Andy is charming and sincere, even when he messes up, and especially when he begs for forgiveness. He is also surprisingly cheerful and optimistic, dealing with negativity with wit and confidence, traits not often seen in men in his position. The look of regret in his eyes when he sees other men being good husbands and fathers earns him further likability from viewers who support his efforts to be a better father. Keaton seems to connect with Andy, perhaps having experienced being away from his son for work himself, and now having a child of his own. Regardless of Keaton's inspiration, he delivers an endearing performance.