Good on Paper: This Film Should Stay on Paper

What happens when a meet-cute is just a façade?


Comedian Andrea Singer meets stranger Dennis at the airport and coincidently they sit next to each other on the plane. A friendship blossoms that feels one-sided on Dennis's part as he tries to infiltrate every part of Andrea's life. Andrea overlooks red flags as their friendship progresses until things get messy. Good On Paper signals something is off from the very beginning as the viewer prepares themselves for the truth.


Voiceovers and comedy standup routines are utilized as storytelling vehicles. It is really interesting to see this format because it is almost like she is having conversations with herself on the time she spent with Dennis. At times it puts into question what the film is: is it a stand-up show or a rom-com? The mash-up of the two ruins the momentum of the story.


While Singer enjoys Dennis she is not into him, until they get drunk. They begin dating and Dennis's lies get out of control that she can't avoid the person he is. After this realization, the film gets even messier. The long montages, in the beginning, make you assume the movie is almost over until you realize only 20 minutes have gone by and you have barely dug into the main story.


Nothing about the film feels natural or believable. It has good messages about settling and making it in the entertainment industry, but the story is confused about what it wants to be. Sometimes the transition from comedian to actor doesn't work.