![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The film’s biggest issue is its uneasy-ness in choosing what it intends to be - what I mean by this is that at times, the film is trying to lean into the thriller aspects of the story but doesn’t ever fully commit to that shift. To the film’s credit, it does not always go where one may expect it to, which if going in blind can provide some satisfying and intriguing surprises. There are several scenes in crowded areas in which I thought the sound design worked well and felt immersive at the moment. The film is technically sound, the camerawork and cinematography are subtle and do not ever overly impress nor distract. Hansen’s character requires a lot of range and he pulls it off in his performance very believably - the moments of levity and charm he hits while also making the darker moments compelling. Subscribe to Hollywood Insider’s YouTube Channel, by clicking here. Related article: MUST WATCH – Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s Love Letter to Black Lives Matter – VIDEO Another great performance in the film is that of Ryan Hansen of ‘Veronica Mars’ starring Kristen Bell and the 2009 ‘Friday the 13th’ reboot. These scenes felt very authentic and sold the stand-up comic element of Shlesinger’s performance which definitely feels second-hand at this point. There are segments where Shlesinger’s character is doing a standup show that acts as a throughline and really feels to tie the film together from the beginning, middle, and through the end. The character’s plight of career dissatisfaction is one that was very effective and compelling and while some may argue it to be generic, I would push back on that - just because an arc is commonplace does not mean it cannot work and here I think Shlesinger justifies the arc in her writing. Shlesinger’s character goes through a very compelling arc, both with her relationship with Dennis as well as a rival actress played by Rebecca Rittenhouse of Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time In Hollywood’. The writing specifically excels in the dialogue and characterization of the film’s characters. The film feels very much like it was written by a stand-up comic in its witty dialogue that moves quickly, similarly to Kumail Nanjiani’s ‘The Big Sick’, which is praiseworthy as it helps to keep a good pace for the film. Shlesinger’s charisma elevates this film completely she is incredibly likable and relatable both in the writing of her character as well as her performance. The star of this show has to be Iliza Shlesinger - marking a transition into acting from stand-up comedy, the star is coming off of projects such as Peter Berg’s ‘Spencer Confidential’, starring Mark Wahlberg and Winston Duke, and ‘Instant Family’, which also starred Wahlberg as well as Rose Byrne. Related article: ‘Luca’ Behind the Scenes, Full Commentary + Reactions at Premiere from Cast & Crew Related article: A Tribute to Cannes Film Festival: A Celebration of Cinema, Glamour, and Humanity | Statement From Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase The film is not without its merits, excelling at its characterization and development of its characters resulting in a very easy watch that will provide a few chuckles but never kicks into the third gear you’d hope it would. ‘Good on Paper’ is a film that is very uneven - while offering some unique elements that are both unexpected and welcomed, the film struggles at times to find its groove and figure out exactly what kind of film it wants to be by the time the credits roll. The film follows Andrea, a stand-up comic played by Shlesinger, who falls for Dennis, a smart, successful businessman played by Ryan Hansen, but soon Dennis begins to seem too good to be true. The film is written by its star, comedian Iliza Shlesinger, and is loosely based on a true story, a story that “began with a lie”. New to Netflix this week is the rom-com-thriller hybrid, ‘Good on Paper’ from director-actress Kimmy Gatewood who appears in television series such as ‘GLOW’ and ‘Atypical’. ![]()
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