Watch As Good As You

As Good As You is a heartwarming and thought-provoking independent film released in 2015. Directed by Heather de Michele, the film stars Laura Heisler, Anna Fitzwater, and Raoul Bhaneja. The movie tells the story of Jo, a woman who loses her wife and best friend, Jamie, to breast cancer. After Jamie's death, Jo struggles to find meaning in her life and her relationships.

The film takes place in a small town in the United States, where Jo and Jamie lived together for years. Jo works as a gardener and leads a quiet life. She is devastated by Jamie's death and finds it difficult to move on. One day, her friend Jen, a single mother and therapist, suggests she should try online dating. Jo is hesitant at first but decides to give it a try. She soon meets a charming man named Jackson, who seems to have a lot in common with her. Jo starts to fall in love with him, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that Jackson has a girlfriend back home in New York City.

As Good As You explores several themes, including grief, love, loss, and family. The film portrays Jo's struggle to cope with Jamie's death and find a new direction in life. She is torn between her feelings for Jackson, her loyalty to Jamie, and her desire to start a family of her own. Jo's relationship with her family is also complicated. Her parents are conservative and Catholic, and her brother is homophobic. Jo discovers that her late grandmother was a lesbian, which brings some comfort and reassurance to her life.

The movie's central themes are handled with great sensitivity and respect. The characters are complex and well-developed, and their emotions feel authentic and genuine. The performances are uniformly excellent, with Laura Heisler delivering a particularly strong turn as Jo. Heisler conveys Jo's vulnerability, pain, and hope with nuance and conviction. She has great chemistry with Anna Fitzwater, who plays Jamie in flashbacks and memories. Fitzwater's performance is warm and loving, and she brings a lot of heart to the film.

The film's supporting cast is also impressive. Raoul Bhaneja is charming and likable as Jackson, and he brings a lot of depth to his character. He has some great scenes with Heisler, and their relationship feels believable and real. Brian Chamberlain and Peter Maloney are excellent as Jo's parents, who struggle to accept their daughter's sexual orientation. Shannon Spangler is terrific as Jo's friend Jen, who offers her support and guidance throughout the film. The child actors, Jack Doyle and Marceline Hugot, are also good in their roles.

One of the film's strengths is its portrayal of same-sex relationships. As Good As You treats Jo and Jamie's love story with dignity and respect. The flashbacks and memories of their life together are tender and joyful, and they show how much they meant to each other. The film also shows the challenges and prejudices that same-sex couples face, both from society and from their own families. It's refreshing to see a film that deals with these issues in a mature and compassionate way.

As Good As You is not without its flaws. The pacing is slow at times, and some of the supporting characters don't get enough screen time. The film also feels slight and predictable at times. However, these are minor quibbles in what is overall a well-made, touching, and memorable movie.

In conclusion, As Good As You is a heartfelt and meaningful film that deals with important issues in a thoughtful and sensitive way. It's a movie about love, loss, and finding oneself, and it will resonate with anyone who has experienced grief or struggled with their identity. The film is elevated by its strong performances, particularly by Laura Heisler, and its themes of family, acceptance, and hope. It's a film that deserves to be seen and appreciated.

As Good As You is a 2017 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.