Tribeca 2022 | Good Luck to You, Leo Grande Review - This Sex-Positive Dramedy Hits All the Right Notes
More and more, the sex-positive movement is becoming more equally represented in media like films. Mostly in documentaries, but movies like Pleasure have paved the way for sex positivity. I would usually list more, but that’s the only film that comes to mind, which is a statement itself. Sex is an everyday thing (or weekly, monthly, annually) for adults, even teenagers. It’s silly that only in the past few years have we started to talk about sex without the word taboo coming up in the conversation or someone being uncomfortable talking about it.
Watch the trailer for Good Luck to You, Leo Grande below.
With Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, director Sophie Hyde is making a conscious effort to push sexual repression and sex-positivity to the forefront through Emma Thompson’s character, Nancy Stokes, a retired British school teacher, who, after the death of her husband, hires an escort named Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) to help her get out of her comfort zone & rid her of her sexual repression. Oh, and did I mention that the film not only deftly handles these topics, but it does so while making you laugh?
Speaking of, the cast is pure magic. I’m not quite sure how casting director Amy Hubbard approached casting Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack, but their chemistry is rare. They feel like two friends meeting up after a decade - even if their age difference is apparent from the moment the two meet for the first time. Furthermore, their age difference is a strength of the film, as it allows for two different outlooks on sex, what it means to them, and other things I won’t spoil.
What also surprised me about the casting is how vulnerable both characters are allowed to be (more on that later) and how that allows for some beautiful scenes that blow me away every time I even think about them. Thompson gives the performance of her career here, almost making me cry at several points towards the end, and McCormack constantly surprised me with how generous his acting was.
While we’re talking of generosity, so much of Hyde’s writing and direction feels so generous to both Leo Grande & Nancy Stokes. They are allowed their own distinct storylines that diverge & sometimes intertwine with one another. In many dramedies with a romantic element, it always feels like the writer or the director is trying to fit two characters into a box so that the two eventually realize they’re perfect for each other, and the film ends. Hyde’s writing and direction aren’t just about how the two relate sexually. For much of the film’s runtime, there is no sex. Instead, it’s two people talking in a room, not unlike most plays I’ve seen. It allows each character to have the discussions needed to carry the plot forward but goes about it in a way that doesn’t leave any room for this to be labeled a “movie with a bunch of sex in it” or “that Emma Thompson movie on Hulu about her sex life.” Don’t get me wrong, much of the film features conversations about sex, but that’s not all the film has to offer.
One thing that helped massively shake that perception is the score by Stephen Rennicks. His score has notes of R&B infused inside, with bits of classical music throughout much of the film. This contrast helps those who don’t like discussing sex to feel like they’re watching a “classy” film. I know it’ll certainly help with my family, even though I know they’ll likely never watch it.
Another great thing about Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, is the camerawork & editing by Bryan Mason. Not unlike a film adaptation of a play, Mason is content with letting both actors play around in the space so that the focus is on the two performances, which is really what the focus of the entire film is on anyways.
If you’re ready to expect a bit more from your romantic dramedy, I urge you to check out this film on Hulu or in a theater if you live in the United Kingdom. It’s a treat that you really shouldn’t miss out on.
★★★★
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is now streaming on Hulu in the United States and theatrically in the United Kingdom.
Until next time!
Thanks to Thomas Stoneham-Judge from Movies For Reel, Shane Conto, Joseph Davis, David Walters, Ambula Bula, and Matthew Simpson for supporting Austin B Media on Patreon!
