FilmSnobReviews

Title: Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
MPAA Rating: Not Yet Rated
Director: Sophie Hyde
Starring: Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack, Isabella Laughland
Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins

What It Is: “Nancy Stokes” is a widow who was married to her now-dead husband for many MANY years. During that time she never really saw herself as a sexual being. That is until she hires gentleman caller “Leo Grande”. “Leo” through simple conversation unlocks something in “Nancy” and a sexual awakening opens up within her. Newfound confidence and appreciation for her body being to take shape. Likewise, Leo begins to show who he really is inside.

What We Think: This film is a fantastic surprise. Given the subject matter, the film does not go where you’d expect by strictly reading the given synopsis. Instead what we get is a wonderful film about two people who find exactly what they were looking for in each other. Emma Thompson is as great as ever and Daryl McCormack is a star. I love Sophie Hyde. Her last Sundance film was the amazing Animals. A rather divisive film that I simply adored. A lot of that is for the same reasons this works. Hyde is excellent at humanizing her subjects and really getting into their pathos. She truly is a talent.

Our Grade: B, I loved this movie. Not only was it not what I expected to be it featured one of my favorite things a film can have. It’s heart in the right place. It’s far from a flawless script and some of the contrivances were forgivably predictable. This thing is held together by solid glue in the lead spots and the directors chair. When this drops it’s going to perform really well with critics. I think audiences will find it a charming piece that is certain to surprise.