Actor turned writer/director Zach Braff must’ve gleaned some nuggets of wisdom after directing shows like Shrinking and Ted Lasso because in his latest effort, A Good Person, he’s managed to align his brand of hipster wisdom and weepy psychology into something engaging and, dare we say, genuine? Dealing with themes such as grief, addiction and redemption, Braff’s third writing and directorial effort utilizes tropes he’s used in his other films: an indie pop music soundtrack, navel-gazing characters, and teary confessions. This time, he doesn’t stumble into silly scenarios (like characters screaming into an “infinite abyss” to unburden themselves in the mysteriously beloved Garden State), or basically anything from 2014’s Wish I Were Here– a self-indulgent mess that put Braff in hot water due to its problematic Kickstarter campaign.
Braff’s syrupy earnestness is still on display here, and it still grates a bit, but this time the characters feel like they’re speaking for themselves, not the author’s intended virtues. The result packs a surprisingly emotional punch and is a much better example of his strengths as a filmmaker than past efforts.
There was a time when Allison (Florence Pugh) was the life of the party. She could entertain a room full of friends, including her fiancé Nathan (Chinaza Uche), by playing the piano and singing standards in a sultry voice. Pugh actually sings the songs in the movie and her voice is savory and textured. Is there anything “Miss Flo” can’t do? One day, Allison drives to shop for a wedding dress with her future sister-in-law and brother-in-law when she gets into a car accident, killing both passengers. After the accident, she breaks it off with Nathan and goes into hiding. The emotional wreckage she left behind falls in the lap of Nathan’s father, Daniel (Morgan Freeman), a retired cop who’s forced to raise his granddaughter alone.
A year later, Allison is aimless, disheveled, and living with…
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