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Plot Summary

Goodrich (2024) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2024 · 1 h 51 m · English
Echo score 72
JustWatch #8,028 8
Directed by
Hallie Meyers-Shyer
Starring
Vivien Lyra Blair, Michael Keaton, Carmen Ejogo, Andie MacDowell, Laura Benanti, Noa Fisher
Budget
$5M

After his wife and the mother of their nine-year-old twins enters a 90-day rehab program, Andy Goodrich finds his life dramatically changed. Suddenly on his own as a full-time parent, he navigates the challenges of modern fatherhood and finds support from his daughter, Grace, from his first marriage. Through these experiences, Andy ultimately learns and grows into a more capable father.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Goodrich
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Goodrich (2024)

Where can you watch Goodrich? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Goodrich: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Goodrich (2024) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Andy Goodrich, a 60-year-old art dealer from Los Angeles, finds himself in a tangled web of family strife and professional despair. His boutique gallery is faltering, and he rarely spends time with his family. One fateful night, he receives an unsettling call from his younger wife, Naomi, who reveals that she has committed herself to a 90-day rehab program to combat her addiction to prescription pills. Furious that he failed to recognize her struggles, she tells Andy she wants a divorce and insists he should not reach out to her. Undeterred, he attempts to visit her at the rehab facility, only to be turned away.

With Naomi absent, Andy grapples with the challenges of parenting his nine-year-old twins, Billie and Mose, fumbling through their routine and missing school drop-offs. In a desperate attempt to shield them from the truth, he concocts a story that Naomi is staying with her mother in St. Louis, yet whispers from the children’s classmates soon reveal her real situation. During this tumultuous time, he befriends Terry, a fellow parent and part-time actor, who is navigating his own heartbreak following his husband’s departure three years earlier.

Andy also struggles to mend his strained relationship with his 36-year-old daughter Grace. The result of his first marriage, Grace was raised largely by her mother Ann while Andy was preoccupied with work. Seeking to reestablish a connection, he reaches out to Grace for assistance with Billie and Mose, leading to more frequent conversations. Grace, however, harbors her own challenges—she is pregnant with her first child alongside her husband, Pete, whom Andy doesn’t fully approve of.

As the mounting pressures of business begin to unfold, Andy’s accountant reveals troubling news: the gallery’s artists are failing to bring in sufficient revenue to counteract steep overhead costs. To turn things around, Andy aims to secure artwork from the estate of Teresa Thompson, a deceased painter, through her daughter, Lola.

Navigating the complexities of fatherhood, rebuilding bonds with Grace, and the salvaging of his gallery keeps Andy busy in the ensuing months. Both his ex-wife Ann and Grace begin to notice that he seems to be in a healthier state, stirring a glimmer of hope in Andy.

After a series of back-and-forth negotiations, Lola finally agrees to sell her mother’s art, prompting Andy to prepare for an upcoming exhibit. However, just when things look promising, Lola unexpectedly retracts her agreement, forcing him to shutter the gallery. During a heartfelt farewell party, he and Grace reflect on his uncertain future—travel, responsibility, and the prospect of becoming a grandfather. He promises to take Grace to her next doctor’s appointment while her mother is out of town.

On Christmas Eve, an unexpected twist arises when Naomi returns home, declaring that she feels better but still wishes to proceed with the divorce. This unexpected visit distracts Andy, leading him to forget to pick Grace up for her appointment. In her frustration, she arrives at the doctor's office via Uber and unleashes a deluge of pent-up resentment towards Andy: about his absence during her formative years, his unreliability, and her simmering jealousy that her younger siblings are receiving a more present version of their father—just as her water breaks prematurely.

In a frantic rush, Andy takes Grace to the hospital, remaining by her side until Pete arrives. A moment of tension arises as doctors express concern over the baby’s heart rate, suggesting an emergency c-section may be needed. However, with Pete's calm presence, Grace is able to remain steady enough to deliver. Overwhelmed with emotion, Andy watches as his grandchild enters the world, knowing that she will have a loving father who can give her the attention he once failed to provide.

Grace successfully gives birth to a beautiful baby girl, and in a touching moment, Andy holds her while Billie and Mose gaze on with wonder.

Last updated: October 24, 2024 at 07:46

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Plot questions answered

Goodrich Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Goodrich (2024): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why did Naomi check herself into rehab?

Naomi checked herself into a 90-day rehab program to treat her addiction to prescription pills. She was frustrated that Andy had failed to recognize her struggles, which is why she also told him she wanted a divorce and asked him not to contact her.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Andy is described as emotionally disconnected from his family, rarely spending time with them, which explains why he missed the signs of her addiction.

  • naomi rehab
  • prescription pill addiction
  • andy goodrich wife
  • divorce
Q2

Why did Grace confront Andy at the doctor's office?

Grace confronted Andy because he forgot to pick her up for her doctor's appointment, a crucial visit during her high-risk pregnancy. Her frustration exploded into a tirade about his absence during her childhood, his unreliability, and her jealousy that her younger siblings were now receiving the more present father she never had. Her water broke moments after this confrontation.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish that Andy was largely absent during Grace's upbringing, prioritizing work over family, which created deep-seated resentment.

  • grace confrontation
  • premature labor
  • andy grace relationship
  • water broke
Q3

Why did Lola change her mind about selling Teresa's artwork?

After months of negotiations, Lola initially agreed to sell her mother Teresa Thompson's artwork to Andy to help save his struggling gallery. However, she unexpectedly retracted the agreement, forcing Andy to shut down the gallery. The summary doesn't specify her exact reason, but the撤回 suggests she had a change of heart about letting go of her mother's legacy.

Foreshadowing: Andy's desperation to save the gallery by securing Teresa's estate was established as his primary business focus earlier in the film.

  • lola thompson
  • art gallery
  • teresa thompson estate
  • gallery closure
Q4

How did Andy meet Terry?

Andy met Terry while both were navigating parenting challenges, Terry was a fellow parent and part-time actor who was also coping with the heartache of his husband's departure three years earlier. Their friendship developed during this turbulent period in Andy's life, providing him with much-needed support.

  • terry friend
  • part-time actor
  • andy support system
Q5

Why was Grace jealous of her younger siblings?

Grace felt jealous of Billie and Mose because she saw Andy becoming a more present and capable father to them after Naomi went to rehab, something she never experienced during her own childhood. She resented that her father was finally stepping up as a parent, but for children from his second marriage rather than for her.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes that Andy was emotionally disconnected from Grace throughout her childhood, leaving her to be raised largely by her mother Ann.

  • grace jealousy
  • billie mose
  • father-daughter relationship
  • childhood resentment
Q6

Why did Naomi come back on Christmas Eve?

Naomi returned home on Christmas Eve after completing her 90-day rehab program. She told Andy she felt better but still wanted to proceed with the divorce. This unexpected visit further complicated Andy's life and distracted him from his commitment to pick up Grace for her doctor's appointment.

Foreshadowing: Naomi's earlier demand for divorce and insistence that Andy not contact her set up this tense reunion.

  • naomi returns
  • christmas eve
  • rehab completion
  • divorce
Q7

What happened during Grace's delivery?

When Grace went into premature labor, Andy rushed her to the hospital. Doctors expressed concern over the baby's heart rate and discussed whether an emergency c-section would be needed. However, with her husband Pete's calm presence, Grace was able to remain steady and deliver the baby naturally. Andy witnessed the birth with overwhelming emotion.

Foreshadowing: Grace's high-risk pregnancy and the confrontation at the doctor's office created the medical emergency.

  • grace delivery
  • premature labor
  • emergency c-section
  • baby birth
Q8

Why did Andy lie to Billie and Mose about where Naomi was?

Andy fabricated a story that Naomi was staying with her mother in St. Louis because he wanted to protect the twins from the painful truth about their mother's addiction and rehab. However, whispers from their classmates soon revealed the real situation, making his lie ineffective.

  • andy lie
  • twins
  • st louis story
  • protect children
Q9

Why was Andy distant from Grace during her childhood?

Andy was emotionally disconnected from Grace throughout her childhood because he was preoccupied with work and his gallery. Grace was raised largely by her mother Ann while Andy focused on his business. This years of neglect created the strained father-daughter relationship that the film explores.

Foreshadowing: The film's opening establishes Andy's pattern of prioritizing work over family.

  • andy grace childhood
  • absent father
  • work over family
  • ann ex-wife
Q10

What does the birth of Grace's daughter mean for Andy?

The birth of his granddaughter represents hope and renewal for Andy. Holding his newborn grandchild while Billie and Mose watched, Andy realized that this new life would have a loving father, Pete, who could give the child the attention Andy once failed to provide. It marked a fresh start and confirmed his growth into a more present father and grandfather.

Foreshadowing: Andy's journey throughout the film was about learning to be a better father, culminating in this moment of connection with his extended family.

  • granddaughter birth
  • hope
  • redemption
  • new beginning
  • family connection

Movie threads

More Movies Like Goodrich, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Goodrich tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Redemptive Fatherhood Stories like Goodrich

Stories about imperfect men learning to become better parents through adversity. If you liked Goodrich, explore more movies about flawed fathers on a redemptive path. These films feature men navigating single parenthood, repairing broken relationships, and finding purpose through their children, offering a mix of emotional stress and tender, hopeful growth.

  • familial
  • stressful
  • redemptive
  • tender
  • hopeful
  • melancholic
  • Tone: bittersweet, hopeful, redemptive
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow a father figure grappling with his own failures—be it career, relationships, or addiction—which collide with the sudden responsibility of caring for his children. The plot unfolds through a series of parenting challenges that serve as catalysts for introspection and gradual, often bittersweet, personal transformation.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a central theme of paternal growth born from struggle. They mix familial stress with moments of tender connection, maintain a steady, character-driven pace, and conclude with a bittersweet yet hopeful tone, reflecting the costly but rewarding nature of redemption.

Bittersweet Family Dramedies like Goodrich

Character-driven stories finding hope and humor in the messy reality of family. Find more movies like Goodrich that blend comedy and drama in a bittersweet exploration of family life. These steady-paced stories deal with real-world issues like divorce, parenting, and personal growth, offering a reflective and hopeful yet realistically imperfect view of family.

  • bittersweet
  • familial
  • reflective
  • hopeful
  • stressful
  • tender
  • Tone: bittersweet, reflective, tender
  • Pacing: steady, linear
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves ordinary people navigating significant but relatable life changes—such as divorce, financial strain, or new caregiving roles—over a linear timeline. Subplots are woven together to reflect thematic unity, with the emotional journey being more important than a high-stakes plot, leading to resolutions that are realistically mixed.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their distinctive tonal blend of humor and pathos, a steady pacing that allows for reflection, and a medium intensity focused on emotional rather than physical stakes. They share a core interest in the redemptive potential within everyday familial struggles.

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Movies Like Goodrich

Similar movies to Goodrich: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Goodrich (2024) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Goodrich in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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