By Marc S. Sanders
Adam Sandler’s production company, Happy Madison, has released a new film for his daughter, Sunny Sandler, to star in, and like her their previous collaboration, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah, it’s an engaging, comedically emotional hit. Don’t Say Good Luck is not as strong as the family dramas that are built on blocks of biting sarcasm like Terms Of Endearment and Steel Magnolias, but the cast and writing devote at least the same level of emotional maturity to the product.
You might argue that Sunny Sandler falls under the category of a “Hollywood nepo-baby,” but the actress’ talent in performance, accompanied by show stopping singing, demonstrates that she deserves to be on stage and/or in front of a camera. She’s a dynamo that I find far more appealing than I ever gave her comedic father credit for.
Laura Hankin wrote this screenplay based on her experience as an eighth grader who was cast in the school play while dealing with a terminally sick relative at home. Sandler portrays Sophie who only hopes to get cast as the supporting role in the school’s upcoming production of Waitress: The Musical. Following call backs, Sophie learns that she’ll be playing the lead. It’s exciting, unexpected and certainly challenging, especially because she’ll romantically be playing opposite the cute boy in school and they’ll have to kiss on stage. Yet, it’s also bittersweet because she has to accept her best friend Carolyn (Scarlett Estevez) has dropped out of the show while not being entirely forthright with Sophie, and Carolyn’s new friendship with Erin.
Sophie’s happy home life is also compromised because mom’s cancer has returned and the forecast for survival is not likely. Mom is Elizabeth, played with beautiful sensitivity by Melanie Lynskey. Lynskey and Sandler make a perfect mother/daughter pair with outstanding chemistry. Their pace is marvelous either when they are putting on southern belle acts for strangers in the mall or struggling with Elizabeth’s decline. They make you laugh and cry. I’m bold enough to declare that Sunny is much more entertaining than her successful father Adam, who I’ve never been that drawn to. Lynskey’s performance is contained with an energy to remain as an active mom. She relies on the convincing makeup to gradually show her decline while not crutching upon a weakened voice or droopy body language. That happens too often. This portrayal is welcome and convincing as one of those people who say “I’m gonna fight this.”
Don’t Say Good Luck is a refreshing coming of age comedy-drama that treats its young actors with authentic respect. Following …Bat Mitzvah and now this film, I gratefully believe that Adam Sandler seeks out these scripts because they are not exclusive to just the two or three leads. Hankin’s screenplay fleshes out the other kids in the musical’s cast. Every actor with at least one line of dialogue appears to serve a meaningful purpose to this film. With so many active participants in the cast the setting’s community is on a solid foundation. There’s life within this high school where the kids go through the theatre games followed by musical choreography and vocal warmups. Even the quirky musical director, who has few lines, has a characterization that is relatable. This is rarely seen, and hard to accomplish in most movies, especially with a brisk running time of only ninety minutes.
Claire Scavone stands out as the enthusiastic actor freshman with the big smile, big glasses and BIG VOICE who absolutely loves theater and the kids she performs with. She’s an outstanding escape from the heavier moments of the film. The typical, blond popular girl (Elyse Bell) who always gets the leads is not the staple enemy of the picture. She’s got the privileged ego at first sight, but then there’s a quick reveal to how she relates to Sophie. Don’t Say Good Luck is not that movie where the snob gets her comeuppance. None of us should love to hate a kid. Sandler’s production knows this.
Adam’s friend Steve Buscemi has reached the stage of playing a grandfather and paired with Bebe Neuwirth as his wife who comes home to help their daughter with family tasks. Buscemi is not trying to steal any scenes. Neuwirth is the mother who oversteps her offers to help but rattles the discomfort that comes when cancer is killing a loved one.
Stephanie Beatriz does more with the theater teacher role than you’d find in typical Nickelodeon or Disney fare. She emulates what is rewarding about teaching with encouragement and respect for her class. As a community theater actor/director/producer, I related to every issue that comes her way from tech issues to sets coming apart and especially to instilling confidence in her student actors. My daughter missed out on this experience in her high school productions. This film reminds me of what I absorbed when I took up theater in school. I also appreciate that the kids are not heightened to be smarter than standard dimwit adults that so many other films rely on.
Max Greenfield as dad might have been worthy of a more expansive role. The guy who runs the sandwich shop with Jon Lovitz, while balancing taking care of his terminally ill wife and a pair of rambunctious twin boys. However, like Endearment and Magnolias, this film hinges on the mother/daughter perspective. So, I can forgive this shortcoming.
Don’t Say Good Luck is schmaltzy with the inevitable sappiness found in tear jerkers, but the dialogue does not appear wasted, and director Julia Hart finds those perfect beats with her ensemble of mostly young actors and extras. She also captures heart wrenching close ups of Sunny Sandler whose dynamic performance must respond to first love, friendship challenges, domestic drama, exciting opportunities and a likely potential for loss. If you are not completely engaged in her closing song performance that wraps up this piece, you left behind several pieces of both your heart and soul somewhere. She belongs on the charts.
Don’t Say Good Luck pulls Sunny Sandler out of Adam’s large shadow. She gives an emotionally strong, breakthrough performance that might earn her at least a Golden Globe award in the Comedy/Musical category, as well as trophies in the young actor awards ceremonies.
Don’t Say Good Luck is now streaming on Netflix.
2 UNPAID MOVIE CRITICS!!!! 