Good Enough: A Modern Musical (2023) Poster

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8/10
Grrrr, Trevor's Dad - I hated him.
pawod-9062026 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Finally a gay indie film with a happy ending! I just knew that this was going to end bad but to my surprise it didn't. Trevor, the news reporter is very cookie cutter of a character but loved the chemistry between him and Jamal. Trevor's father is the biggest jerk I've ever encounter in a movie. I wanted to give him a chance but nope, he ruined any redemption possibilities every single time. Just when I thought he couldn't get more nasty he did. I can write this entire review about how much I hated Trevor's dad. Good job on whoever wrote and the guy that play Trevor's dad. He did awesome at making me hate him. When he slapped Trevor's mom, I almost had to pause the movie because I couldn't believe how much I was hating him. I'm so glad that she left him in the end. I hope he's dead in the sequel because there's no way to redeem a character like that. Okay enough of Trevor's dad. Let's talk about the low down dirty of Jamal's dad. The absolute audacity to show up at this point in his life. The dads suck big time in this movie, so if you're a dad do not watch this on Father's Day. There's so many great things about this movie. The music is phenomenal, I didn't expect the the music to be that good until I started watching it. For those that haven't watched this yet, do yourself a favor and do so and get prepared to hate Trevor's dad. Grrrr!
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8/10
Kankakee Illinois is in a movie!
collinsiev12 March 2024
I'm actually from the place where this takes place, Kankakee Illinois. It's super cool how they showed different places in the area in this film. Though Kankakee Illinois University (KIU) is not real, it was cool to see. Am I the only person that felt like the coach was creepy from the start. There was something about his vibe that just rubbed me the wrong way when we first meet him. With all the things that's coming out about celebrities these days, I can believe that these types of things happen for real. Over all this was a pretty descent movie, I'd watch it again for sure. I wonder if there would be a part two to this?
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8/10
Its Good Enough for me!
yokatoc22 February 2024
Good Enough: A Modern Musical is ranked among my top favorites as of now. The music, an infectious blend that implanted each melody in my mind, showcased a level of artistry that resonated deeply. The characters, brimming with relatability, etched themselves into the narrative, creating a lasting impact. What truly enhanced my appreciation was the revelation that the writer and director were one and the same, a testament to the exceptional talent encapsulated in a single individual. It stands as a testament to the boundless possibilities when creative brilliance converges in the hands of a singular, multifaceted visionary.
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6/10
Good Enough: A Modern Musical
CinemaSerf12 May 2024
"Jamal" (Jay Towns) is the upcoming basketball player who arranges an hook up on the internet. He is surprised to find that it's college television anchorman "Trevor" (Trey Mendlik) who turns up. That doesn't put them off, and indeed they meet more than once as the latter man begins to fall in love and the former has to come to terms with his own identity. Can they make a go of it? Well jeopardy wasn't high on the writer's list of priorities with this predictably turbulent tale of finding your feet, but it's a little more engaging than your run of the mill gay drama. That's maybe because the supporting characters are a bit stronger. France Jean-Baptiste and Beka both work quite well as the mothers as does Pete Berwick as the layabout and rather odious father of "Trevor" who manages to mix his racism and homophobia in quite a toxically entertaining fashion. It's peppered with some decent enough songs that help it showcase some of the issues faced by young people coming out, and by those dealing with unhappy marriages, drugs, yes all that usual melodrama stuff - but again, it sort of works better than you might expect. It's essentially a project for the stage, though, I think. Cinema doesn't really do it any favours as the audio mix is pretty dire as is the voice dubbing for the songs. In many ways it's no worse than the over-hyped "Theatre Camp" (2023) and won't scare you away. It's aptly named.
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7/10
Should have been a comedy!
vaser-1326928 February 2024
I wasn't sure if I was supposed to laugh as much as I did watching this. Yes, there were some serious parts but a lot of it is pure comedy. From the beginning when Jamal's friend was trying to grab the microphone, that part is HILARIOUS! Then later when he says that K-Swiss is better than Nike, I laughed out loud literally. I enjoyed watching this but think they should reconsider the genre and make it a comedy. Even the "deep" moments have a comedic nuance to them. The table scene was another part that had me dying laughing, there's no way you can tell me this isn't a comedy. Trevor's father is funny as hell. He's like an Archie Bunker of today. Trevor's mom and that axe! Please re "genre" this film, I think people would see it differently if they knew if it was okay to laugh.
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7/10
Seven Stars for me is Good Enough
yicabis26 February 2024
Approaching this with skepticism due to unfamiliar faces, I was pleasantly surprised by its quality. The engaging and authentic storylines captivated me, though I wished for more exploration of Nathan's character, potentially making it the focal point with the love story as a subplot. Nathan's song "99 Pills" was a standout, sending shivers down my spine-an undeniable highlight. The acting, while decent, aligns with many smaller budget films, and there's a sense of commitment across the board. I'm giving it 7 stars, I acknowledge its potential for growth and look forward to see what else is produced by the writer Mike Spears in the future.
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4/10
This is Bad Enough
bbarry-9946113 September 2023
Regular themes mixed with modern day sensibilities that is horrible. It's like watching paint dry. I had no empathy for the characters and couldn't wait for this fiasco to be over. The musical numbers were not even on par with the best high school performances I've witnessed. When it was over I kept saying that's 2 hours of my life I'll never get back. This story could of been told in half the time. It just seemed that the director rushed the shoot and no one bothered to push the actors to deliver honest emotional performances. It was amateurish at best. As I watched the musical numbers I kept thinking this can't be choreographed only to watch the end credits to realize it was to my dismay. I hope the writer, producer, and director keep trying to develop but this is just plain awful.
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10/10
My blood type ...
jiri-twist11 October 2023
I really liked this musical, which won thanks to creator Mike Spears at three festivals in LA, as well as in Florence and Palm Springs, and I will keep coming back to it. The choice of both main protagonists was absolutely brilliant. Not only excellent acting, but also singing. One song after another was a delight not only to my ears, but to the point where I wondered why there weren't more of them. Gradually, the story unfolded and I became more aware of the completely professional approach of Jay Towns and Trey Mendlik. Both mothers showed up a lot in the second half as well as some other characters and I was sad at the end that everything ends and I also enjoyed the end credits, which you must not turn off. I definitely recommend it especially to open-minded viewers who like this kind of film art. And I'm going to the musical again...
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10/10
BRAVO BRAVO!!
nobilem22 February 2024
Many movies and productions with low budgets fall short because of their lack of imagination. This movie Good Enough was not one of those. You can tell the budget was thin but the effort to make this a masterpiece was present throughout. The acting was very good considering not knowing any of these people. The singing and song were INCREDIBLE! I'm blown away by this film. These types of production companies are the ones that deserve those big budgets. Loved it!

This film stands as a testament to the untapped potential of production companies operating on tight budgets. The dedication and creativity showcased in "Good Enough" underscore the need for more significant support for such endeavors.
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9/10
I feel seen!
dilole-9088221 February 2024
I'm the type that appreciates independent art. The storyline was easy to follow and I felt like I could relate to the drama. The actors were good for it to be a cast full of none "Hollywood" people. The cinematography was okay, there were no shots that were too dark. This was one of the best I've seen. The music was very catchy and each song gets stuck in my head. The characters are extremely relatable. After seeing the credits at the end, I appreciated this movie so much more. The writer and director is the same person that wrote the songs! That's amazing for talent to be set into one individual.
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9/10
Remind me on my own life
perezeaw17 March 2024
This film really hit home for me. It's packed with moments I won't forget anytime soon. I found myself laughing out loud and getting emotional, especially when Trevor's mom and dad appeared-they felt like a mirror image of my own family, sending shivers down my spine. Sadly, his father's character hit too close to home, reminding me of people I've encountered in my life.

The main message about our universal struggle to measure up struck a chord with me. And the music? It wasn't just good-it was outstanding. The "music video" style took me back to my MTV days, which was a nice touch.

I'll be honest, I was skeptical about it being a musical because they're not usually my thing. But the way the music was woven into the storyline impressed me. Overall, a job well done!
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9/10
Pretty Good!
sarebox12 April 2024
This was pretty good! It's one of those films that you could really get cozy with. I think that's because there's a relatable element to it. The moms truly carried the film for me. Moms ROCK! My favorite moment was when Trevor was under the bed, my gosh, that part was so funny. Totally hated Trevor's dad! Why do people like this exist?! The song 99 Pills is the crown jewel of this entire film. I enjoyed all the songs but 99 Pills sent chills through my body. I think the guy that's playing Nathan is actually singing it. I can go on and on, there were so many good pieces to this film. I highly recommend it!
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9/10
A Love Story with Happy Ending
fijaso-1924226 February 2024
What a love story! It's good to see a gay film with a good happy ending. I don't want to spoil it for anyone but there is a sad moment in the film. However the connection between Trevor and Jamal is so pure and innocent, I love it. The chemistry between the actors was steamy, I wondered if they were actually a couple in real life. The pacing of the film was just my speed. I liked the awkwardness in some of the moments that Trevor and Jamal shared alone, because it's so relatable. The ending warmed my heart and made me smile! I wasn't expecting it to end the way it did but was glad it ending that way. Overall this was a strong, relatable story that's easy to follow.
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9/10
Truly Amazing
midifo-664476 March 2024
Kudos for being so brave. I admire the actors, writer, producers, director and everyone that worked in this MASTERPIECE! The topics that this film covers are so on point and chilling. It takes a lot of heart to be a part of a project like this. Many talk about representation but only few could stand strong on it. Hollyweird wouldn't DARE to produce something that tells us that we ALL are Good Enough. That song alone is so strong and so true to me. I've doubted myself and my value for so long. I honestly don't know where to begin with this and I know it seems like I'm rambling but that's because there's s many things to cover in this that I can't pick just one thing. All I can say is, give this film a solid watch; it's truly amazing.
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8/10
Totally Relatable
nelsonaan8 March 2024
Loved watching a gay film with a super happy ending. Don't want to spill the beans, but there's a bit of a tearjerker in there. Trevor and Jamal's connection is just so pure and innocent - totally my vibe. And can we talk about the sizzling chemistry between the actors? Had me wondering if they're a real-life couple. The film's pacing was right up my alley, and those awkward moments between Trevor and Jamal? Totally relatable. The ending? Heartwarming and put a huge smile on my face! Wasn't expecting it to wrap up like that, but I'm so glad it did. Overall, a solid, relatable story that's a breeze to follow.
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