Sunny Sandler leads sentimental teen musical about family illness
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The new review characterises Don’t Say Good Luck as a heartfelt but highly sentimental teen musical drama, with Sunny Sandler’s performance as the shy aspiring actor Soph at its centre. It says the film’s early promise of modest comedy and satire gives way to a more earnest story about family illness and adolescent ambition, making it most likely to appeal to viewers receptive to its emotional intensity.
Soph lands the lead in her school’s production of Waitress after channelling fears about her mother Elizabeth’s cancer into an audition, while Elizabeth considers delaying the diagnosis’s disclosure to protect her daughter’s big moment. Julia Hart directs and co-writes the Netflix film, co-produced by Adam Sandler; Melanie Lynskey plays Elizabeth, with support from Stephanie Beatriz, Bebe Neuwirth, Steve Buscemi, Jack Champion and Jon Lovitz.
- Sunny Sandler leads a sentimental school-musical drama.
- A cancer diagnosis threatens Soph’s theatrical breakthrough.
- The review finds it heartfelt but overly sugary.
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The film follows Soph, a shy teenager who hopes to become an actor while her family faces her mother Elizabeth’s cancer diagnosis. Her school production of the musical Waitress becomes closely tied to the pressures and fears she is experiencing at home.
Sunny Sandler plays Soph, while Melanie Lynskey plays Elizabeth. The film is directed and co-written by Julia Hart, and Adam Sandler is among its producers; the supporting cast includes Stephanie Beatriz, Bebe Neuwirth, Steve Buscemi, Jack Champion and Jon Lovitz.
It is a teen musical drama that combines school performance, family relationships and serious illness. The story explores how a parent and child try to protect one another while dealing with uncertainty.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Don’t Say Good Luck review – high-school musical weepie puts Sunny Sandler in the spotlight”.