Good on Paper
| Good on Paper | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Directed by | Kimmy Gatewood |
| Written by | Iliza Shlesinger |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Giles Dunning |
| Edited by | Kyla Plewes |
| Music by | Jonathan Sanford |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Good on Paper is a 2021 American romantic comedy film directed by Kimmy Gatewood in her feature directorial debut and written by Iliza Shlesinger. The film stars Shlesinger alongside Ryan Hansen, Margaret Cho, and Rebecca Rittenhouse. The narrative follows Andrea, a stand-up comedian who meets a seemingly perfect man—only to discover that he may not be who he claims to be.
The film was released worldwide on June 23, 2021, by Netflix. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Shlesinger’s comedic performance but criticized the film’s tonal inconsistency and narrative execution.
Plot
[edit]Andrea Singer is a stand-up comedian and aspiring actress living in Los Angeles, frustrated by the greater success of her peer Serrena. Returning from an audition in New York City, Andrea meets Dennis Kelley at the airport after he returns her boarding pass. On the flight, Dennis claims to be a Yale graduate working in hedge funds. They strike up a friendship, with Dennis becoming a frequent companion and supporter, though Andrea feels no romantic attraction toward him.
Dennis helps Andrea prepare for auditions and becomes increasingly present in her life. After an expensive dinner—where his credit card is declined—Dennis asks Andrea to be his girlfriend, but she declines. He later claims he had ordered her a bracelet but returned it due to a mistake. When Andrea lands a leading role in a new TV series, Space Cadet, Dennis interrupts her celebratory date by claiming his mother has cancer. The night ends with the two hooking up, and Andrea agrees to start dating him.
As their relationship deepens, Andrea and her best friend Margot begin to suspect Dennis is not who he claims to be. When Andrea tries to surprise him at his house, she finds out he lives with two roommates and has lied about his background. Confronted, Dennis fabricates a story about caring for his sick mother.
On a weekend trip with Andrea’s family—Yale alumni and doctors—Dennis tries to maintain his facade but avoids exposure by faking an injury. Andrea grows increasingly suspicious and later uncovers more inconsistencies with Margot’s help. They confirm Dennis never went to Yale and is not employed in finance. Attempting to confront him, Andrea and Margot get Dennis drunk, but the situation spirals when they accidentally injure him.
Dennis files charges, accusing Andrea of kidnapping. Though she receives a restraining order, the experience gives her new material for her stand-up routine and a renewed sense of self-awareness.
Cast
[edit]- Iliza Shlesinger as Andrea Singer, a stand-up comedian who has been putting her career ahead of romance
- Ryan Hansen as Dennis Kelley, Andrea's love interest. He claims to be a Yale graduate and a hedge fund manager, but nothing is really what it seems
- Margaret Cho as Margot, Andrea's best friend who owns a bar. She is suspicious of Dennis's story.
- Rebecca Rittenhouse as Serrena Halstead, a rival actress who seems to audition for a lot of parts that Andrea is going for, and lands them.
- Matt McGorry as Brett, Andrea's cousin, and an actual Yale graduate
- Tyler Cameron as Ruggedly Handsome Man
- Taylor Hill as Chanterelle
- Kimia Behpoornia as Maggie, Dennis's roommate
- Beth Dover as Leslie
- Sonya Eddy as Judge Harriet Gold
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]Good on Paper was inspired by Iliza Shlesinger’s real-life experience, which she originally shared in her 2015 stand-up segment “Lying Brian” on This Is Not Happening. The story involved a man who falsely claimed to be a Yale graduate and hedge fund manager. Shlesinger adapted the incident into a fictionalized screenplay, blending comedy with commentary on deception and dating culture.[1][a][2]
Casting
[edit]In April 2020, it was announced that Shlesinger would star in the lead role, with Kimmy Gatewood making her directorial debut. The supporting cast includes Ryan Hansen, Margaret Cho, and Rebecca Rittenhouse. The film was produced by Universal Pictures and distributed by Netflix.[3]
Filming
[edit]Principal photography began in November 2019 and concluded in December 2019. Filming took place in Los Angeles, shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
Release
[edit]Good on Paper was released worldwide on June 23, 2021, by Netflix.[5]
Reception
[edit]On Rotten Tomatoes, Good on Paper holds an approval rating of 51% based on 37 reviews, with an average rating of 5.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Writer-star Iliza Shlesinger finds some laughs in real-life romantic travails, but Good on Paper makes an overall awkward transition from stand-up to screen."[6] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 54 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[7]
Monica Castillo of RogerEbert.com noted that while the film "sometimes gets silly, sometimes serious," it "never wavers from its mission of being funny through it all," highlighting its blend of humor and darker themes.[8] The Guardian commented that the film's transition from a compelling personal story to a broad comedy resulted in a loss of edge, stating, "On screen it's a little less effective, mostly because in trying to force it into the structure of a broad comedy, it loses some of its edge."[9] Digital Spy praised the film's genre-blending approach, writing that it "manages to borrow from a variety of genres without ever feeling like a rip-off," and commended the chemistry between Shlesinger and Ryan Hansen.[10]
Paste Magazine described the film as "a witty tale of deceit and betrayal," offering "an uncomfortable look at the values we tend to buy into and why," acknowledging its commentary on modern relationships.[11] Common Sense Media highlighted the film's exploration of deception in dating, noting that while it contains mature themes, it offers a "smart, funny take on a real-life dating disaster," suitable for older teens and adults.[12] Decider referred to Good on Paper as an "anti-rom-com," stating that "a solid premise and Shlesinger and Hansen's unconventional chemistry make it more than worth your while."[13]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Although the source cited does say "University of Ohio", there is no institution with this name, so this may be a reference to Ohio University, Ohio State University, or some other university in the state of Ohio.
References
[edit]- ^ "Iliza Shlesinger's Ex-Boyfriend Lied About Everything—So She Made a Netflix Movie About Him". Vanity Fair. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
- ^ "'Good on Paper' "True Story": Iliza Shlesinger's Dating Horror Story Inspired the Netflix Movie". 23 June 2021.
- ^ Erbland, Kate (April 15, 2020). "Iliza Shlesinger Is Beating the Apocalypse With Home Cooking and Two New Shows". IndieWire. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ^ "Untitled Iliza Shlesinger Project". Production List. 7 October 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ^ Billington, Alex (May 18, 2021). "Iliza Shlesinger & Ryan Hansen in Trailer for Comedy 'Good on Paper'". First Showing. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ^ "Good on Paper (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- ^ "Good on Paper". Metacritic. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ "Good on Paper movie review & film summary (2021) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ Lee, Benjamin (2021-06-22). "Good on Paper review – Netflix dating comedy is OK on screen". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ "Netflix's new anti-rom-com Good on Paper - Digital Spy's review". Digital Spy. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ "There's No Way Iliza Shlesinger's Dismal Star Vehicle Was Even Good on Paper". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ Movie & TV reviews for parents. "Good on Paper Movie Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ Menta, Anna (2021-06-23). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Good on Paper' On Netflix, A Semi-Autobiographical Anti-Rom-Com Written By & Starring Iliza Shlesinger". Decider. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
