Emma Thompson orgasms for the first time in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, an amusing little “romantic comedy” drama of sorts about a nervous and prudish woman who hires an escort to… expand her horizons.
Thompson delivers a fantastic “can’t picture anyone in the role” kind of performance, handing audiences the kind of neurotic, nuanced, and fine-tuned turn the storied actress can do so well–and done extremely well.
Daryl McCormack complements her perfectly, playing the cool, suave title character tasks with not only pleasuring his client sexually but unlocking her neurosis to make her a more confident person.
The two have amazing chemistry–quite important when the movie is essentially a two-person show–and despite their different personas, ages, and professions, their dynamic is incredible believable and intriguing to watch. The fascinating thing about Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is that it plays like a romantic comedy of sorts, except real romance isn’t on the table. These two won’t be a real couple at the end of the story, because that’s not what this story is about; it’s about sexual awakening, and emotional exploration, and not just for Thompson’s character.
Directed by Sophie Hyde and written by Katy Brand, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is a confidently made movie that knows exactly what it is and wants to be. It isn’t the kind of movie I personally am going to rave about, and yet there is little to fault or criticize it for; with great performances, terrific writing, and lean storytelling, it’s a worthy watch if a movie like this is up your alley.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.
