Don’t Say Good Luck Review — Sunny Sandler Earns Her Moment

I can already anticipate what some people will say when they see Sunny Sandler’s name attached to a Netflix movie produced by Adam and Jackie Sandler: “Nepo baby.” That’s fine—watch the movie. Directed by Julia Hart, “Don’t Say Good Luck” stars Sunny Sandler as Sophie Birenbaum, a teenager who finally lands the lead role in her high school production of *Waitress* just as her mother Elizabeth’s cancer returns.

Melanie Lynskey plays her mom, Elizabeth; Max Greenfield portrays Sophie’s father, Ted; and the supporting cast includes Stephanie Beatriz, Bebe Neuwirth, Steve Buscemi, and Jack Champion. The story is inspired by co-writer Laura Hankin’s own experience of getting the lead in her high school musical when her mother’s cancer returned.

This personal connection prevents “Don’t Say Good Luck” from becoming the manipulative tearjerker it could easily have been. As the parent of a young man who went through chemotherapy early in his life, these types of films resonate differently for me. Julia Hart largely avoids the formulaic approach: someone gets diagnosed, the music prompts us to cry, and characters deliver speeches about appreciating every sunrise. At the same time, the audience is emotionally mugged for two hours.

Instead, *Don’t Say Good Luck* focuses on a more relatable theme: life continuing amidst tragedy. This reminds me of something my grandfather always said: “You have to take the crooked with the straights.” Sophie is still in high school and the lead in the school play, so homework still exists, rehearsals still happen, crushes still matter, and, most importantly, parents still embarrass you.

Sunny Sandler, no stranger to acting, brings authenticity to Sophie, who strives for the lead role even as her family faces significant change. Sunny does not approach Sophie in a way that begs the audience to recognize her as Adam Sandler’s daughter; rather, she captures the awkwardness and uncertainty of being a teenager, rather than portraying a twenty-five-year-old actress pretending to be a teen. However, Melanie Lynskey subtly steals the show. If this weren’t a summer streaming movie, one might even say she deserves award consideration.

Lynskey has a remarkable ability to convey a range of emotions without explicitly announcing them. Elizabeth wants to protect her daughter, maintain a sense of normalcy, and cope with her own fears without allowing the diagnosis to dominate the atmosphere. Lynskey never turns her character into a saint waiting to dispense inspirational wisdom, and that restraint is crucial.

At times, the movie feels a bit too neat. Sophie’s high school environment is significantly kinder than one might expect from most teenage dramas, and the screenplay occasionally softens the harsher realities surrounding terminal illness. However, I appreciated this perspective; not every coming-of-age movie needs to subject its teenage characters to the brutal experiences seen in “Euphoria”. Sometimes, having loving parents, decent friends, and caring adults makes loss even more painful, not less.

“Don’t Say Good Luck” is sincere without constantly pleading for tears, and Sunny Sandler demonstrates that she can carry more than just her family name.

Final Grade: B+

“Don’t Say Good Luck” is streaming now.