Don’t Say Good Luck Is Perfectly Poignant and Emotionally Deep

Once in a while, there’s an original Netflix film that not only manages to be compelling, but also thematically and emotionally rich. Don’t Say Good Luck happens to just be that film thanks to its wonderful lead performances and Julia Hart’s focused direction.

On the surface, it may seem like Don’t Say Good Luck is your usual coming-of-age story. Sophie is your usual high-schooler who’s hoping to get more from life and surprisingly does so when she scores the leading role in a musical. She’s got her heart out for the musical’s leading man, but Sophie also has to face the inevitablility of her mother’s cancer.

Despite these two aspects of Sophie’s life pulling viewers in different directions, Hart confidently utilizes both storylines to create that emotional drive. Thanks to this, you’re easily able to warm up to what Sophie has to go through to as she navigates life.

How Hart balances Sophie’s tribulations throughout Don’t Say Good Luck gives the viewer the necessary details to firmly latch to. Between her having to deal with being the female lead of Waitress at her school to spending time with her mom, there can be much to take in.

On one side of things, Sophie trying to grow closer with Jack while staying in touch with Carolyn happily provides this pillar of empathy she can lean on. Through the countless rehearsals she partakes in to get prepared, there’s this softer tone that lingers within the interactions that Sophie finds with Jack. His character doesn’t fall in the stereotypes of the “loverboy”, but rather is trying to find his own way.

As for Sophie’s friendship with Carolyn, there is a slight strain that forms, driven by Carolyn’s own journey of self-discovery. Carolyn’s arc is much more contained, serving as a minor storyline that feels like a background element to Sophie’s development. However, the way that Hart builds on this little issue that arises adds a satisfying layer to all these issues.

Everything involving the high school “coming-of-age” aspect is handled with respect from Hart – who also writes alongside Laura Hankin and
Jordan Horowitz – to add a lighter hue to Don’t Say Good Luck. It’s when Hart divulges in the mother-daughter connection between Sophie and her mother, Elizabeth, where the film feels more emotionally powerful.

The mother-daughter scenes between Sophie and Elizabeth in Don’t Say Good Luck are quietly interwoven into Sophie’s main journey. 

As Elizabeth’s illness worsens, the moments that Sophie and Elizabeth spend together feel much more impactful. Whether that be hanging out together in the mall or the inevitable sad moments, Sandler and Lynskey easily hone in on making that mother-daughter connection feel real.

This is because of how dedicated Sunny Sandler and Melanie Lynskey are in making Sophie and Elizabeth’s relationship authentic. Sandler gives Sophie a realistic, yet driven, attitude when it comes to her trying to manage everything that’s happening around her. Meanwhile, Lynskey proves that she can deliver an incredibly moving performance, playing the subtle beats just right.

The conversations that these two share throughout, along with the influence of a few other characters, thoughtfully add to deepen that familial bond Hart establishes.

Elizabeth’s mother, Linda, is a bit eccentric and may act somewhat cold, but is rounded out by the warmer Dale, Elizabeth’s dad. Although both of them are sparingly used throughout the film, their involvement in Sophie’s life adds that bit of tenderness to show how everyone’s preparing. Ted is a little bit of a jokester, even getting a moment to drop exposition, but he’s still supportive enough.

That said, the thematic connections between Don’t Say Good Luck and Sara Bareilles’ adapted musical are very strong. Much like how that actual musical is held together by a mother-daughter bond, this film takes a more cautious, yet optimistic approach to that idea. Although it may not dig into the grief of it all, it still does a solid job of allowing that joy to shine.

Don’t Say Good Luck proves itself to be a thoughtfully contemplative piece of enjoying what life can give and the effectiveness of love shared by mothers and daughters. I didn’t expect myself to be this moved by a Netflix original movie, but Hart, Sandler, and Lynskey do an exceptional job showcasing those personal ideas and memories.

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Don’t Say Good Luck is now streaming on Netflix.

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