Good Night Movie Review: A one-stop-shop for hearty laughter and warm hugs

Good Night Movie Review: A one-stop-shop for hearty laughter and warm hugs

Vinayak's solid screenplay and skilful execution, combined with terrific performances, elevate the film that offers a truckload of laughter and love
Rating:(3.5 / 5)

Problems, big or small, are part of life. But aren't these problems only as huge as we make them? Debutant director Vinayak Chandrasekaran picks up this simple thread of the human psyche to weave his feature, Good Night, and he has done it with abundant love…the kind of love that serves as a solution to many problems… small and big. 

Director: Vinayak Chandrasekaran

Cast: Manikandan, Meetha Raghunath, Ramesh Thilak, Raichal and Balaji Shakthivel

Good Night is about Mohan (Manikandan), an IT professional. A child at heart and an underconfident individual, Mohan deals with extensive snoring that results in many "problems" in his life. From rejections in romance to humiliation at work and social circle, Mohan is down in the doldrums. But his family — a pally brother-in-law (Ramesh Thilak), a sensitive mother, and two bold sisters — gracefully embrace themselves and him, and are pillars of support. On the other hand, we meet Anu (Meetha), an introvert who lives alone because she considers herself a misfortune of sorts. She is supported by her house owners, who are an adorable elderly couple. The worlds of Anu and Mohan come together, and what should have been a ‘happily ever after’ gets a rude awakening when they realise their motto of "marriage life is simple and straightforward" is far from reality. 

This romantic comedy-drama is engaging on multiple levels. If the well-written screenplay is a solid strength, then so is the perfect blend of relatable comedy with impeccable timing. Manikandan and Ramesh Tilak, who share extraordinary chemistry, are the soul of Good Night. Meetha plays a neat foil as a timid yet sensitive and sensible young woman who never hesitates to express her love and vulnerability.

In a genre film, it is the new ideas for template situations, inventive treatment of the narrative, and an eye for detail that can make all the difference. And Good Night scores high on these fronts. Take, for instance, the meet-cute scene between Mohan and Anu. Instead of regular beauty shots and romantic frames, the makers opt for an awkward-meet-cute situation. These changes are refreshing, and it only adds to the intrigue of Good Night. 

While Mohan's snoring and its effect on his relationship with Anu is the film's crux, a parallel storyline explores pertinent interpersonal issues like how societal expectations, norms and conditioning affect the women and their partners. Mohan's elder sister(played by a promising Raichal) is a mirror to many married women who are subjected to unsolicited interrogation sessions by "elderly women", mainly about her "delay" in pregnancy. The way she embraces vulnerability and realises the strength to overcome negativity offers comfort and hope.

Good Night's writing also echoes well-defined character arcs and character conflicts. Stringing one common conflict — social anxiety— for Anu and Mohan and showcasing their fight against it brings in an important experience that offers a vital perspective. While Mohan thinks his snoring is a disturbance and a problem for her, Anu feels helpless as she is unable to make him understand that her concern is not this but something else. Above all, things worsen when Mohan decides to sleep alone until he stops snoring. As the tiff escalates, they don't strive to find a solution but only continue to lock horns. And it is lovely to see how they rise beyond these self-constructed barriers, one at a time and realise that love has the power to outgrow differences and the so-called "problems".

However, Good Night turns to a bumpy road for a brief time in the latter half with the focus on melodrama, and unnecessary detours like Mohan's office issues. But these are just minor speed bumps on a journey bolstered by Sean Roldan's vibrant music, and the director's penchant for tapping into humour to eke the film out of sticky situations.  Considering how the makers seem to be emphasising on the importance of second chances, a more compelling redemptive arc would have helped the makers to justify that narrative.

Nevertheless, Good Night's genuine intentions executed by wonderful performances, will certainly fill your heart and put a wide smile on your face. As the credits roll, we realise each of us is inundated by problems of all sizes, and there is a simple solution for most of them. Some problems take longer to resolve, but till then, there is nothing like a warm hug from loved ones or just a good night's sleep to give us the drive to fix it all.

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