Good on Paper (2021)

Iliza Shlesinger is quite funny—and by that I mean, she comes across as someone you could have a great evening with—at one of her shows, or if you end up in a pub with her or something like that. But for this film, it works only moderately; the narrative gets stuck between being too over the top and too little, and it also drags on for way too long. Directional mistakes perhaps, just a little too little guts to make real choices.

And undoubtedly unintentionally, it comes down to the fact that the film lives up to the title exactly – the idea was quite good, and on paper it was perfectly fine. But the execution is disappointing.

Translated from Dutch · View original

In her feature film debut, stand-up comedian Shlesinger holds her own effortlessly. She plays Andrea, a stand-up comedian who has sworn off men. Until she meets Dennis [Ryan Hansen], who, despite his flaws, seems like an excellent match. Best friend [Margaret Cho] is quick to point out signs that Dennis is not who he really is. Interspersed with clips from Shlesinger's performances, in which she reflects on her experiences with a sharp, intelligent tongue. Especially for those unfamiliar with her solo work, Shlesinger is a breath of fresh air in the stereotype-ridden rom-com genre. Moreover, she receives excellent support from Hansen, who keeps you in the dark about his true nature for quite some time.

Translated from Dutch · View original