Nothing Good Ever Happens

Director - Henrique Couto (Scarewaves, Babysitter Massacre)
Starring - Josh Miller (Applecart, CarousHELL), Erin R. Ryan (Easter Casket, Bath Salt Zombies), and Bradley Diehl (Making Out, Awkward Thanksgiving)
Release Date - 2016
Genre - Comedy
Tagline - "He's fine, really."
Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     After watching Awkward Thanksgiving and Making Out I wanted to watch another Henrique Couto film.  With films like Scarewaves, Alone in the Ghosthouse, Babysitter Massacre, Marty Jenkins and the Vampire Bitches, one would have a hard time picking what movie they wanted to watch next.  For me the choice was very clear.  Couto recently finished his new comedy Nothing Good Ever Happens which stars Josh Miller who is no stranger to my reviews.  His finishing of the film came at the perfect time.  I was able to have a non-horror triple feature of Couto films which turned out to be a pretty fun experience.  Thanks Henrique for letting me check it out!

     The film follows Neil (Miller) who has foun himself in a rough patch in his life.  His father left him when he was younger and now his girlfriend (Ryan) has left him.  He works for himself as a graphic designer and artist but business has been slow as of late.  A friend makes him some homemade wine in a white bottle but after a few drinks he gets it confused with bleach and drinks it.  He awakens in the hospital where they believe it is a suicide attempt and force him to court appointed therapy.  He goes and spills his guts with no affect but does learn one day that  his girlfriend left him for another woman which really hurts him.  He confronts the other woman but discovers she is actually a good person and the two become friends.  His father then comes back into his life and apologizes for missing a majority of his life but soon dies leaving an even bigger hole in his heart.  There is a silver lining that comes out of his death.  He meets an old friend of his father who takes him under his wing and shows him what its like to be a man and stand up for himself.

     I had no idea what to expect when Couto first announced this film.  Was it going to be another romantic comedy like Making Out or an off beat comedy like Awkward Thanksgiving?  Though Nothing Good Ever Happens is an unusual comedy it still follows that off beat comical flair that Couto gave us in Awkward Thanksgiving.  The acting in this is one fantastic.  I have seen Miller is several films where he is never given room to open up and show what he is truly capable of.  His roles tend to be small and his characters are easily forgettable.  This film remedies this.  Josh gets a great character with a lot of different dimensions and he kills it.  The remainder of the cast does a great job as well.  We get a small, very small, role from Erin R. Ryan.  She was not really able to showcase her talent but it was still nice to see her.  We do get an amazing performance from Bradley Diehl.  Diehl had some smaller roles in Awkward Thanksgiving and Making Out but gets a little more room to spread his wings in this film.  He is a high energy actor that can take center stage like no other.  We also get a small role from Marylee Osborne who has more than showed her amazing skills in several other films.  I would have loved to see her have a bigger role but the film did not call for it.  The story for this one has range which is unusual for a comedy.  The film comes off as depressing for the most part before giving the viewer some laughs.  The story is written in such a way that the viewer feels bad for Neil.  He finds himself in a rut and you can't help but connect with him on several levels.  We have all been dumped, lost a loved one, and some have even attempted suicide so this gives the viewer something to connect with.  After the film pulls you in and hits you in the feels it then proceeds to give you some unsuspecting humor.  The laughs are very well written and timed perfectly with the seriousness of his film.  Finally, this is another Couto film that lacks blood and gore.  Instead, we get a character driven piece that that has plenty of ups and downs.  Not in production quality but in the life of a young man.  We have all been there before making this one very relate-able.  Overall, Nothing Good Ever Happens is a damn fine indie film.  The film goes through a wide range of emotions and shows just how diverse Couto is as a filmmaker.  I would recommend this movie to anyone that wants to laugh or enjoy a good story.  Check this one out as soon as possible.