The Good Half is More than Great

This film shares a poignant story that everyone can relate to. It’ll definitely put you through many emotions, and the odds of shedding a tear or two are certain, but so are the odds of laughing. The Good Half, directed by Robert Schwartzman, premieres nationwide Friday, August 16. As the film prepares to be seen by eyes everywhere, the Los Angeles premiere took place August 13 at the beautiful Saban Theater in Beverly Hills. The story was written by Brett Ryland and is based on a tough reality he had to face, losing his mother to cancer. After that tragedy, Rylands wife encouraged him to seek therapy to help with his grief. Through therapy he decided to write about his experiences, eventually leading to what audiences will see onscreen in The Good Half. While Ryland said the characters are removed enough from him it’s not painful to watch, he certainly drew inspiration from his experiences and the people he met in his grief, including his therapist – who takes on a new role in the film and made a very special connection with the lead character, Renn.

Speaking of Renn, audiences will be delighted that he’s played by Nick Jonas. As Jonas arrived on the red carpet at the premiere, with his wife Priyanka Chopra Jonas, fans could be heard screaming and swooning. It’s obvious he has a devoted following, but even without his loyal groupies, he makes a prominent mark on this film. Jonas’s acting is impeccable. He showcased so many emotions onscreen as Renn and the audience could feel each one of them. His performance was deep and raw and beautiful. Nick Jonas may have made a name for himself as a singer, but he will go far as an actor too. He shared that you have to expect the unexpected when making a movie, and funnily enough drew it to the moment, as the projector wasn’t working in the theater, and there was quite a delay in the start of the premiere screening. But that was the lesson, for the film and for life, you have to roll with it.

During the Q&A, that ended up taking place before the movie instead of after, the whole cast joked about the technical issues that arose, and it really showed their chemistry as a group. You could sense that they became a family, on set and off. The film also stars Brittany Snow, Elisabeth Shue, David Arquette, Matt Walsh and Alexandra Shipp. Walsh actually said the family aspect is what drew him to the film, because it shows what exists in a family and really unpacks that for the audience, in a relatable way. Elisabeth Shue plays Renn’s mother, who (no spoiler alerts) dies of cancer. He learns how to process this loss throughout the film and we see flashbacks to the vibrant, unique woman that his mother Lily was. Shue shared that she could not have been prouder of the film and was drawn to it because of the love story between a mother and her family. She loved how messy their humanity was upon Lily’s death, and that the story showed the reality of the grieving process – but in a funny way.

David Arquette, a prominent figure in Hollywood, plays Renn’s step-dad, and said his character Rick is really a jerk, but shared with us that it’s pretty fun to be able to play a jerk, since he is a people pleaser in real life. Arquette himself lost his mother to cancer, so this film brought up a lot of memories of her and other people he has lost, and validated how much he misses them. But on the positive side, he found gratitude in keeping their spirits alive. He sweetly said he just wants to make his parents proud – as we all do.

Alexandra Shipp who plays Zoey, the therapist in the film, comes into the movie in an unusual way. We get to see Zoey help as a therapist but not in a typical manner. Once again, the subject matter was near and dear to Shipp, whose mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor. That’s the draw of this film and the reason it will make you feel so many emotions – we’ve all been touched by cancer and we’ve all dealt with grief. Thankfully Ryland helps us find humor through pain, and pain through humor.

Run, don’t walk to theaters to see this film. Make sure you take your tissues and you’re ready to laugh through the tears. For more about the The Good Half, it’s cast and where you can see it, visit thegoodhalfmovie.com.