Don’t Say Good Luck is a Netflix drama directed by Julia Hart, following Sophie, a 16 year old who lands the lead role in her high school production of Waitress: The Musical just as her mother’s cancer returns and begins spreading faster than anyone expected. Sophie has to figure out how to be a teenager with a crush, a best friend drama, and a show to rehearse for, while also facing something no teenager should have to face.

The film is carried almost entirely by Sunny Sandler, and yes the conversation about nepo babies is unavoidable when your father is Adam Sandler and also the producer. But to her credit she earns the role. Her acting still has room to grow and there are moments where you can see the edges of her inexperience, but she is a young talent being developed and in a few years she could be something really special. The voice alone is enough to make you forgive a lot.

Besides whatever Sunny Sandler lacked in acting was made up by Melanie Lynskey who played her mother. Her emotional range as Elizabeth really brought this film to life.

I usually avoid films about cancer because they are just too heartbreaking to sit with. But this one earns its emotional beats without trying too hard. The pacing is gentle and the film never hammers you over the head with grief. It just lets it exist alongside everything else Sophie is going through, which is honestly closer to what grief actually feels like.

It is also worth acknowledging that Adam Sandler has been on a quiet run with Netflix films lately. Giving us age appropriate, emotionally grounded movies that makes the increasing price of Netflix almost worth it. Almost.

Anyways Don’t Say Good Luck fits right into that streak. It is simply a touching movie. 8.3/10