Reel Abilities NY 2024: “Good Bad Things” - Film Review
The place and purpose of romantic comedies in society is up for debate. Some people believe these movies are frivolous and nothing more than mindless entertainment. It’s a long-held belief of mine, however, that it’s important for everyone to see someone like themselves at the center of a romantic story. It’s easy to take for granted this genre of film when a viewer is able to easily see themselves in the main characters. For those in the minority, it can feel like silly, giddy romance is outside the realm of possibility, so it’s an absolute joy to find a movie that expands the scope of romantic comedies. Good Bad Things does just that.
Danny (Danny Kurtzman) is a graphic designer living in Los Angeles and reeling from a breakup. He co-owns a marketing company with his best friend and roommate, Jason (Brett Dier). Their company is on its last legs and their only hope is landing the rebrand for a dating app called Ruby. At Jason’s urging, Danny downloads the app, even though he doesn’t think he’ll get any matches. Danny has muscular dystrophy and feels confined both physically and mentally. After only a few days on the dating app, Danny matches with Madi (Jessica Parker Kennedy), a charming photographer who begins to pull Danny out of his shell.
If you’ve seen a romantic comedy before, you’ve seen Good Bad Things, but that isn’t a negative. The same can be said for so many films in the rom com genre. Good Bad Things is a warm hug of a movie, the kind you’d seek out when you’re home sick from school. It’s funny, sweet, and hopeful in the ways we want our romantic comedies to be. The friendship between Danny and Jason is the film’s high point, so much so that you almost wish Good Bad Things was a bromance flick. Their friendship is the film’s guiding light. They don’t shy away from hard conversations, they push each other, and they encourage each other to grow. That’s all you can ask for in a friend.
Danny is the quintessential lead for a romantic comedy and undergoes the hero’s journey of self-discovery. His ultimate realization is that it’s more than likely he will fail at something, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t try. Like the greats of the genre before Good Bad Things, the film gives the audience a lesson we could all benefit from learning, but never in a heavy-handed way. The moment when Danny breaks down crying with his dad about how there are choices we have to make that are hard, but ultimately good, is the heartbeat of the film. It’s in the quiet scenes that Good Bad Things soars. Other times, the film falls into the traps of the genre with a few too many montages. And Madi comes across as a bit underdeveloped as a love interest. Nevertheless, Good Bad Things is a bundle of earnest comfort and encourages us to keep trying.
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