The Good Half (2023)

The Good Half (2023). 1h 36m

“Greetings again from the darkness. Losing a parent is a difficult time that most of us will deal with at some point. Sorrow and guilt and anger are typically part of the grieving process, and thatu0026#39;s precisely what writer Brett Ryland and director Robert Schwartzmann (THE ARGUMENT, 2020) show us. For those who have been through it already, itu0026#39;s likely to bring back emotions that will always be there, and for those who havenu0026#39;t experienced this yet, it serves as a cautionary tale.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film opens with a mother (Elisabeth Shue) trying to make peace with her angry young son (Mason Cufari). It turns out mom absent-mindedly left the boy at the store, and it takes a u0026#39;pinky promiseu0026#39; that u0026quot;Iu0026#39;ll never leave you againu0026quot; from mom to win the boy back. Of course, as avid movie lovers, we know this means mom will in fact leave the boy again at some point.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film then jumps ahead 15 plus years, as that young boy Renn has grown up (now played by Nick Jonas) and is on a flight from Los Angeles back home to Cleveland for his motheru0026#39;s funeral. While flirting over the sleeping dude in the middle seat, Renn and Zoey (Alexandra Shipp, BARBIE, 2023) bond a bit, and even exchange numbers. Sheu0026#39;s therapist in town for a conference, and he coyly avoids telling her the real reason heu0026#39;s home.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOnce home, itu0026#39;s clear an agitated and barely-speaking Renn is holding back emotions, and so is his sister Leigh (Brittany Snow, PITCH PERFECT franchise). Their kinda goofy dad (Matt Walsh, u0026quot;Veepu0026quot;) awkwardly tries to make the best of things, despite the strain between his son and daughter. Leigh is a bit miffed at Renn for leaving her alone to take care of their cancer-stricken mom, and Renn is carrying the guilt and shame of not being there, as well as the anger of having mom leave him. However, the two can share their similar feelings of disgust towards stepdad Rick (perfect villain, David Arquette), whom we also find very easy to dislike. Their casket shopping experience is a terrific scene and gives Renn a chance to open up a bit with sarcasm.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRenn escapes the pressure a couple of times by meeting Zoey for drinks … even karaoke, where Jonas sings the Modern English classic, u0026quot;I Melt with Youu0026quot;. Jonas and Ms. Shipp have good chemistry, and that goes for Jonas and Ms. Snow, as well. In fact, Jonas delivers a strong enough performance that we feel tense when he finally unloads his pent-up emotions, and heu0026#39;s able to juggle the mixture of comedy and grief and family drama. Everyone grieves in their own way, and itu0026#39;s always painful. The filmu0026#39;s best line, u0026quot;happy or not, itu0026#39;s familyu0026quot;, is one many can relate to, and there is also a bit of advice: sometimes … take the long way.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn theaters August 16, 2024.”