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Don't Say Good Luck

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Don't Say Good Luck

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Summary

Teenager Sophie Birenbaum (Sunny Sandler) is poised to audition for a role in Westridge High School's spring musical and showcase her considerable talents to her peers. Fictionalised drama on the page pales next to the chaotic whirl of Birenbaum family life when Sophie discovers her mother's cancer has returned. Elizabeth (Melanie Lynskey) and husband Ted (Max Greenfield) try to put on a brave face for the sake of Sophie and her younger brother, with support from grandparents Dale (Steve Buscemi) and Linda (Bebe Neuwirth). As Sophie's world falls apart, she lands the lead role in the musical and begins rehearsals with classmate Jack (Jack Champion) in a tender coming-of-age drama directed by Julia Hart.

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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Calum Baker

This TV-movie weepie hits all its marks, but can't transcend its own narrow perspective enough to fully convince. Sunny Sandler, whose comic-superstar father Adam produces the film, stars as Sophie Birenbaum, a humble teen who happens to be a theatrical prodigy, handily landing the lead in her high school's production of the Waitress musical. Unfortunately, her loving mother (Melanie Lynskey) has suffered a cancer relapse, forcing Sophie to reckon with her priorities. Co-written by husband-and-wife team Jordan Horowitz and Julia Hart (the latter also directing), this is a competent, affirmative comedy drama with a few chuckles and some sob-out-loud scenes. Sandler acquits herself well, with fine timing, an excellent singing voice and a convincing rapport with Lynskey. Unfortunately, she and a squandered supporting cast (Max Greenfield, Steve Buscemi, Bebe Neuwirth) are ill-served by a screenplay that offers only flat characterisations: Sophie is often incredibly self-centred yet the film blithely demands that we remain on her side. It's essentially produced as a showcase for its young star, and there's a laughable, if not offensive "nepo-baby" whiff to the whole thing as it pursues a dreams-of-stardom narrative that it can't fully square with the awkward complication of a terminally ill parent. An effective enough watch, but sometimes painfully shallow.

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6.8/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameSophie BirenbaumSunny SandlerElizabeth BirenbaumMelanie LynskeyTed BirenbaumMax GreenfieldMs ParkerStephanie BeatrizLindaBebe NeuwirthDaleSteve BuscemiCaleb BirenbaumMatan M FriedmanEthan BirenbaumEitan O Friedman

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Crew

rolenameDirectorJulia Hart

Details

Released on

2026-08-14

Languages

English

Guidance

Swearing, sexual references.

Formats

Colour

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