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All too often, once actors reach a certain age, they’re generally relegated to comic roles as wacky grandparents or dramatic roles as dying grandparents. But in The Good House, adapted from the novel by Ann Leary, older stars are given a chance to shine on their own.
The Good House stars Sigourney Weaver as Hildy Good, a lifelong resident of the seaside town of Wendover, Massachusetts. Until recently, Hildy was the top real estate broker on the North Shore. But then her daughters and her ex-husband set up an intervention and sent her off to rehab, and her assistant walked off with most of her clients. Now, she’s secretly back off the wagon, and she’s struggling to pay her bills. But, ever the good New Englander, she keeps a stiff upper lip—until she can’t anymore.
As Hildy juggles family and friends, her struggling business, and maybe even a budding relationship with her first love, Kevin Kline’s Frank, her age doesn’t matter—and that’s refreshing to see. It doesn’t matter that she’s old enough to be a grandmother; here, she’s just a woman who’s trying to navigate the ups and downs of life.
Hildy is an incredibly layered character—and a challenging one, too. She’s friendly and outgoing—always willing to lend a hand. But, in true New England style, she can also be blunt and abrasive—though often in the most likably amusing of ways. Yet underneath the generosity and the occasional barbs, she’s dealing with all kinds of challenges and hurts that she doesn’t talk about. It’s so much more than the usual crazy grandma role—and Sigourney Weaver couldn’t be better.
It doesn’t hurt, either, that the story takes place in a quaint seaside town, inhabited by a mix of quirky New Englanders: from the crusty town gossip, who sits outside the coffee shop, sharing the news he gets from his AA meetings, to the working class families to the privileged big-city transplants who live in their oceanfront mansions. The setting and the characters are all a part of Hildy—a part of what made her a no-nonsense drunk with a heart of gold. And all of that also makes the film undeniably charming.
The Good House isn’t always light and fluffy. Throughout Hildy’s adventures, it tackles topics like substance abuse and mental health. And while the characters and their situations often lend some light-hearted comedy to the story, it’s a lot messier—and more honest—than the usual romantic comedy.
You can find The Good House in theaters starting on September 30, 2022.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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