Written and directed by Tom Stuart, out of money and out of luck, Danny is determined to turn his life around, but the interventions of his anarchic mum and the reappearance of figures from his past threaten to derail him at every turn. Starring: Ben Whishaw, Marion Bailey, Dino Fetscher, Paul Chahidi, Mark Monero, Jocelyn Jee Esien and Bettrys Jones.
These days, we get used to seeing Ben Whishaw in these very composed, graceful and classy roles, which is no surprise because he presents himself so flawlessly as a lovely, intelligent man. However, it’s always nice to change things up and see him playing things a little messier and more unpredictable, wherein comes Good Boy. Whishaw gives us a character who is on the edge, he’s in the midst of suffering and struggling to keep a grasp of everything going on in his life. He brings a manic personality to Danny but he’s also sweet and slightly naïve, giving viewers that classic feel of protectiveness over him. Watching him absolutely demolish a pack of Mrs Crimble’s biscuits is also a memorable moment.
The direction and aesthetic pair nicely with his performance, capturing a quintessential British sense of humour. It feels as though it tips its cap to comedy of the 80s and 90s but visually leans more towards the 70s with its bright, colourful palette. The tone is very much of a misadventure, with a playful score and haphazard or calamitous air. Tom Stuart does a great job of capturing the emotional foundation to Good Boy and bringing a light-heartedness to balance it with. What that does is instil the film with a lot of sincerity and weight without having to dredge through dark and dreary waters.
Stuart’s writing also deals with the topics at play in a gentle manner, it’s a superb choice to explore mental health and loss. It creates a very accessible atmosphere and allows the audience to take things at their own speed, it gives you everything you need to know but you could still piece it together as slowly or fast as you’d like. It would make for a great pairing with Luke Daly and Nathan Fagan’s Mud Queen which screened at the Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival last year. It’s also a wonderful representation of the idea of how we are followed by our memories, and how those we lose remain with us.
Good Boy is a touching yet playful and imaginative way to explore mental health. Ben Whishaw gives an unsurprisingly superb performance, he’s brimming with energy and a clumsiness which make for a fun yet moving combination. The writing approaches the topics with sensitivity but manages to meld them into an adventure, which is no easy feat. As well as being shot in a way that does justice to both its vibrancy and its sadness.
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