Goodrich
Andy Goodrich's life is upended when his wife enters a rehab program, leaving him on his own with their young kids. Goodrich leans on Grace, his daughter from his first marriage, as he ultimately evolves into the father she never ...
The film box office disappointment against its tight budget of $5.0M, earning $1.6M globally (-69% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the comedy genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Andy Goodrich
Grace Goodrich
Terry
Naomi Goodrich
Main Cast & Characters
Andy Goodrich
Played by Michael Keaton
An art gallery owner whose life is upended when his wife enters rehab, forcing him to reconnect with his estranged daughter and care for his young twins.
Grace Goodrich
Played by Mila Kunis
Andy's pregnant adult daughter from his first marriage who helps him navigate single parenthood while dealing with her own life changes.
Terry
Played by Michael Urie
Andy's longtime business partner at the art gallery who supports him through his personal crisis.
Naomi Goodrich
Played by Laura Benanti
Andy's second wife who enters rehab for substance abuse, catalyzing the story's events.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Andy Goodrich sleeps peacefully beside his wife Naomi in their upscale Los Angeles home, his comfortable life as a successful gallery owner seemingly intact.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Andy wakes at 3 AM to discover Naomi gone. She calls from a rehab facility to announce she's checking herself in for 90 days, leaving him alone with the twins and offering no further explanation.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Andy commits to being a hands-on father, reorganizing his gallery schedule around the twins' needs and asking Grace to guide him through the parenting he never properly did with her., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Andy successfully hosts a birthday party for the twins that Grace attends, marking a false victory where he believes he's mastered this new life. Grace tells him she's proud of who he's becoming., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 83 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Naomi reveals she wants a divorce upon leaving rehab. Andy realizes his marriage was built on him being absent and distracted—the same pattern that damaged his relationship with Grace. His carefully constructed new life crumbles., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Grace goes into labor and calls Andy. Racing to be there for her—something he missed with her birth—he realizes that being present now is what matters, not fixing the past. He chooses to show up., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Goodrich's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Goodrich against these established plot points, we can identify how Hallie Meyers-Shyer utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Goodrich within the comedy genre.
Hallie Meyers-Shyer's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Hallie Meyers-Shyer films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Goodrich exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Hallie Meyers-Shyer filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Hallie Meyers-Shyer analyses, see Home Again.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Andy Goodrich sleeps peacefully beside his wife Naomi in their upscale Los Angeles home, his comfortable life as a successful gallery owner seemingly intact.
Theme
Grace tells Andy that being present means more than just showing up physically—it means actually paying attention and being emotionally available to the people who need you.
Worldbuilding
We meet Andy's world: his high-end art gallery, his young twins Mose and Billie, his estranged relationship with adult daughter Grace who resents his absence during her childhood, and his seemingly perfect life with younger wife Naomi.
Disruption
Andy wakes at 3 AM to discover Naomi gone. She calls from a rehab facility to announce she's checking herself in for 90 days, leaving him alone with the twins and offering no further explanation.
Resistance
Andy struggles with the basics of single parenting—school drop-offs, making lunches, managing schedules. He reluctantly reaches out to Grace for help despite their strained relationship, debating whether he can handle this alone.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Andy commits to being a hands-on father, reorganizing his gallery schedule around the twins' needs and asking Grace to guide him through the parenting he never properly did with her.
Mirror World
Grace, now pregnant herself, begins spending more time with Andy and the twins. Her own journey toward motherhood parallels and illuminates Andy's second chance at fatherhood.
Premise
Andy discovers unexpected joys in daily parenting: attending school events, helping with homework, cooking dinners. He bonds with the twins while simultaneously rebuilding his relationship with Grace, learning to be present in ways he never was before.
Midpoint
Andy successfully hosts a birthday party for the twins that Grace attends, marking a false victory where he believes he's mastered this new life. Grace tells him she's proud of who he's becoming.
Opposition
Complications mount: the gallery faces financial troubles from Andy's divided attention, Naomi's rehab reveals deeper marital issues, and Grace confronts Andy about his past failures as a father. The twins begin acting out, sensing family instability.
Collapse
Naomi reveals she wants a divorce upon leaving rehab. Andy realizes his marriage was built on him being absent and distracted—the same pattern that damaged his relationship with Grace. His carefully constructed new life crumbles.
Crisis
Andy spirals into despair, questioning whether he's capable of real change or doomed to repeat his patterns. He withdraws from the twins and Grace, reverting to his workaholic gallery focus as an escape.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Grace goes into labor and calls Andy. Racing to be there for her—something he missed with her birth—he realizes that being present now is what matters, not fixing the past. He chooses to show up.
Synthesis
Andy supports Grace through childbirth, finally being the father she needed. He accepts his divorce with grace, commits to co-parenting the twins with genuine presence, and rebuilds his relationship with Grace on honesty rather than guilt.
Transformation
Andy holds his newborn grandchild while the twins and Grace surround him. No longer the absent patriarch, he's become the emotionally present father and grandfather his family always needed—awake, attentive, and finally there.