‘Good Luck To You, Leo Grande’ | Sundance 2022 Review

Emma Thompson plays a woman later in her life exploring her sexuality by renting a hotel room and hiring a male escort for the evening. The Escort (Daryl McCormack), see’s how nervous she is about this encounter, and as he begins to try and ease her worries, realizes that he may have more feelings than he thought, in this charming tribute to feminism, intimacy, and loving yourself.

I think this is Emma Thompsons strongest performance so far in this decade of her career. she has wonderfully delivered dialogue full of wit and humor. Vulnerable but also so when you break her character down is very judgmental as well. It’s when Daryl McCormack is able to lovingly remind her that she’s not perfect, but also that she should love herself that her character starts to change. She’s also quite a square in the bedroom, and with this escort she is exploring what sexuality is for herself when she hasn’t ever paid attention to and nurtured that part of her. The dynamic between her and McCormack is wonderful. They both have amazing chemistry and feel very tangible.

The message of self-love is often thrown around in young coming of age films or ironically musicals like ‘The Greatest Showman’. It’s refreshing to see that dynamic switched here with giving that self-love message to a middle-aged woman that would in most cases not be explored this way without it feeling forced. Sophie Hyde does an incredible job at towing that line and She really knows how to work with both her performers.

The film is mostly set in the hotel room, aside from a couple scenes. This can sometimes make the conversation seem a little repetitive in the second act, but I was fully engaged in the discussion from start to finish. The messages of self love and giving love to others was explored in a charming, and cheeky (pun intended) way.

Overall, I really enjoyed ‘Good Luck To You, Leo Grande’ and think it’s the best comedic film I’ve seen so far this festival on day 3.