The Gabby Petito Story

The good - Brian Laundry - what an actor - absolutely spot on. He's every bit the awkward jealous, insecure Brian Laundry we've seen on footage. The scene where he kicks off in the cafeteria is probably one of the best scenes in the film.

The bad - Gabby Petito - the over acting, cringe voice she puts on in an attempt to sound like Gabby footage is dreadful. Because she's way older too than Gabby was it comes across immature.

The ugly - sad to learn that the Petito family wasn't approached and that nothing was donated to their foundation.

Thora Birch trying to keep her hand in acting by directing/producing this probably wasn't the wisest of choices in what appears to be a money grab and wasted opportunity to get the real story across about who Gabby Petito was and why her tragic death and story is so important. Birch and her acting is absolutely dreadful. Constantly clearing her throat is annoying and the scene at the end where she takes the phone call about Gabby is some of the worst acting I've ever seen. A lot of the facts too seem to have either been forgotten or changed. We know Brian told his parents Gabby was missing before he got back to Florida in her van so why then is he seen rehearsing telling his folks? We also know how she died and how she was discovered. Why then is he seen digging a hole to bury her? Very strange. As a stand alone domestic violence film without using the Petito name it would have been better. Especially for the family.

I think this movie is decent for Lifetime standards. I don't get however that they cast Gabby's "mom" as an actor that is 12 years apart from the actress that plays Gabby. It's very obvious she doesn't look like she would be her mom IRL. So idk casting could have been better!! I know sometimes this happens but it just seems kind of dumb and I am an actor and producer so I don't see how they cast it like this because it's not believeable. The acting was ok and I honestly haven't heard of this story until now but I like to watch these type of movies if they are done at least somewhat believable.

This is a film depicting domestic violence, circumstances matter. The actress portraying Gabby is someone who appears to be in her early thirties when Gabby AND her friend were in their twenties. A for effort, but for victims who have been there and done that, it does NOT portray an unknowing victim.

The events appear accurate, and also introduces an element of mental health problems as to Brian which was not made main stream to the public, which could shift the court of public opinion.

I don't know. I have mixed thoughts. New elements, and improper casting leaves me feeling unsettled about public perception.

I think this could have been put together so much better. This was a sad story. I could not stop watching the news I just felt the movie was too rushed.. no chemistry between characters .... Any of them.

The best friend was beyond cheesy. She seemed more into herself than the role. What's up with the eyelashes There was no lead up, I didn't have any connection with anyone Gabby deserved so much better

How do we know what their last words were? I know this isn't 100% accurate. But we don't know what was going on.

Brian and his family are absolutely horrible people Karma has its way of working around.

Why this movie needs to be made in break-neck speed without the approval of the victim's family is beyond me. At some point, some form of dramatization is understandable as Gabby's story somehow has captured the world and there are very important lessons to be learned. But spitting out this movie in a mere 8 months after Brian's notebook discovery is in extremely poor taste. Have some respect and give the family time to heal and ensure that they are involved in any future movie decisions. And it goes without saying that allowing sufficient time to lapse before releasing such a production could only help with the quality and accuracy of it. Instead, we get this cheesy Lifetime rendition which is basically a mimicry of millions-viewed police bodycam videos and Instagram photos, while it fills in the gaps with mere speculation of what could have happened. It is also annoying how genders and races of cops and lawyers are changed for no good reason. And the victim Gabby's portrayal is cringe throughout, while I hate to admit that the actor portraying the perpetrator Brian seems spot-on in his performance. Three stars for that effort - he has the same look, same voice, same awkward body language, and convincing unpredictable rage.