The Good House

Ms. Weaver makes this role seem effortless. I totally related to her character.

I have to search diligently these days, to occasionally find a gem of a movie, and this one is one of those special few.

The acting, the story, the characters, the setting, the score,the camera work....everything, was authentic, beautifully and excellently executed.

The only tiny thought I had, which did not lesson my enjoyment, was why they didn't go with a more authentic Maine accent. No big deal.

A must see movie for those of us who are not entertained or much impressed with what is most popular of movie making these days.

In a world of junk revivals, it's wonderful to watch a fresh story with humor, heart, and hope. Everything about this story was perfect. I laughed and cried in a rollercoaster of emotions. At one point I was enjoying it so much, I became aware that it may be close to the end. I wanted to see more.

I enjoyed all the stories within the movie. Every character seemed to have their own issues and it was interesting to see Sigourney Weaver's character deal with each of them. Her character was strong and vulnerable.

Why does Hollywood continue to redo stories when writers like this are out there? A small slice of life type of movie is missed. This and mystery movies will always win over super heroes and rethinking what was already done.

The Good House follows Hildy Good, a prominent realtor in Wendover, a fictional coastal Massachusetts town resembling Gloucester. Hildy knows everyone in town, as she's lived here all her life with family and friends. She speaks directly to the audience by breaking the fourth wall to offer background information and gossip on the main characters. The town of Wendover feels very lived in by the end, due to how each well developed character is acted excellently. Hildy's struggle with alcoholism is incredibly believable because her relatable excuses and nonchalant internal voice is convincing. This is largely due to Sigourney Weaver's stellar performance as usual. As the film progresses, it passes through comedy, romance, drama, and finally suspense. I laughed, cried, felt on edge, and finally the ending warmed my heart.

It's a drama set in a modern-day fictional town called Wendover, Massachusetts. It follows a somewhat functioning alcoholic 60ish realtor as she faces the reality of her declining business and family relationships.

Hildy Good (Sigourney Weaver) is a woman in denial about her drinking and its impact on her life after she's gone through one rehab. She still has a decent relationship with her ex, Scott (David Rasche), who left her for a man. Her daughters, Tess (Rebecca Henderson) and Emily (Molly Brown) have a more strained relationship with Hildy because of their childhood memories of her drinking.

Hildy also engages with a young married woman, Rebecca (Morena Baccarin), who is having an affair with the town's psychiatrist, Peter Newbold (Rob Delaney). Finally, as Hildy's world begins to crumble, she reconnects with Frank (Kevin Kline), her high school love, who is now the town's provider of garbage collection, substantial renovations, as well as fishing for lobsters.

This is Sigourney Weaver's movie. She is outstanding and has a good script with which to work. She is smart, clever, and humerous in dealing with her denial and frequently talks to the movie audience to explain herself. Kevin Kline is a good match. The rest of the characters are more forgettable as individuals but add texture to the context. Unfortunately, I thought the ending was too facile, detracting from the film's impact. I haven't read the book, so I don't know if the finishes match.

The script is clumsy (Really? Breaking the fourth wall?), the blocking is stumbling and cinematography bland (I felt bad for the poor editor who seemed at a loss to shove the clunky shots together). But in the end, this movie still worked.

It was a pleasure to spend two hours with these actors, especially the always witty and wonderful Sigourney Weaver. She gives the part weight without making it heavy, and she is well-supported by Robert Kline, Rebecca Henderson, Rob Delaney, and Morena Baccarin, all of whom turn in well-rendered performances. And in the end, all the pieces came together to make a satisfying story about people trying-some successfully, some not-to get through life's trials.