Good Luck To You, Leo Grande Review: Thompson Leads A Charming Dramedy [Sundance]
Directed by Sophie Hyde from a script by Katy Brand, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is a captivating and somewhat unexpected film. The film starts in a place that seems familiar before digging much deeper into its characters while tackling sexuality, sex work, and the gift of pleasure and good conversation. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is utterly charming, thoughtful in its character development, and in the exploration of its themes about sex and self-love.
Nancy Stokes (Emma Thompson) is a widow and retired religious teacher who is uptight when it comes to sex, but who wants to experience some sexual adventure in her life after 30 years of doing the same thing with her husband. She complains a lot about her children — a son she considers too “boring” and a daughter who is more of a free spirit — and disparages others with quick quips, but is ultimately looking for a genuine human connection. She’s trying to be more open about things by exploring her sexuality first and foremost.
Related: Am I Ok? Review: Dakota Johnson Charms In Thoughtful Film About Self-Discovery [Sundance]
Enter Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack), a sex worker Nancy hires for a couple of hours. The two meet in a hotel room, but things don’t necessarily go the way one might expect. Leo explains he gives his clients whatever they desire — be it a sexual fantasy, a nice chat, or something as simple and comforting as holding hands while watching TV. Nancy can’t get out of her own head at first, but the ultimate result of her and Leo’s encounters is perhaps more than either of them bargained for.
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is, at its core, about self-love and the freedom that comes with sexual fulfillment. It also explores the masks one wears to cover up the
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