"Don't Say Good Luck": Sunny Sandler proves she is a talented actress
The new Netflix film, produced by Adam Sandler, follows a girl who lands her dream role in a school production while coping with the devastating news of her mother's illness. Despite some narrative flaws, "Don't Say Good Luck" is a moving coming-of-age story.
The massive deal between Adam Sandler and Netflix remains one of the most profitable in the streaming giant's history, delivering hits like Murder Mystery and Hubie Halloween. While Sandler's name on a project usually guarantees an audience, in recent years, these films have increasingly become a platform for his daughters. After his eldest daughter, Sadie, starred in a film produced by her father, and his younger daughter, Sunny, shone in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Sunny now returns in the more mature Netflix drama Don't Say Good Luck, directed by Julia Hart.
Defined as a teen musical drama, the film has enough emotional weight to appeal to an older audience as well. It follows Sophie (Sunny Sandler), a high school theater student who unexpectedly lands the lead role in the school's production of the musical Waitress. Her excitement is quickly overshadowed by devastating news: her mother, Elizabeth (the excellent Melanie Lynskey), is battling a recurrence of cancer. Sophie finds herself torn between intense rehearsals and the desire to spend every possible moment with her ailing mother.
Alongside this, Sophie navigates the typical challenges of adolescence: a dangerous crush on her stage partner, a drifting friendship, and the mistakes of youth. While Don't Say Good Luck follows the conventions of the genre, it emphasizes family dynamics, with school life serving as a subplot. This leads to a slight missed opportunity, as certain narrative threads—such as the rivalry with her classmate Mallory or the strained relationship between Elizabeth and her own mother—remain underdeveloped.
Nevertheless, the film opts for a realistic, sober conclusion, avoiding the overly sweet endings typical of teen movies. The true highlight is the stellar cast: alongside Melanie Lynskey, the film features Max Greenfield, Stephanie Beatriz, Bebe Neuwirth, and Steve Buscemi. As for Sunny Sandler, she proves that she earned her role on merit, not just because of her famous father, who, incidentally, does not appear on screen at all. Don't Say Good Luck is a perfect choice for a quiet evening, a film that will stir your emotions without requiring heavy intellectual investment.
