The Good Guy is a 2009 American romantic comedy film directed by Julio DePietro starring Alexis Bledel, Scott Porter, and Bryan Greenberg. The story is a loose adaptation of Ford Madox Ford's 1915 novel The Good Soldier, which is referenced several times in the film's plot.
Contents
Plot
The film explores the complexity of modern relationships set against the backdrop of Wall Street's high stakes environment. Beth, played by Alexis Bledel, is a young Manhattanite and urban conservationist looking for a fulfilling life, including a good job, good friends, and importantly, a good guy to share her life with. She falls for Tommy Fielding, portrayed by Scott Porter, a charismatic and successful investment broker who seems to have everything going for him. Tommy is charming, clever, and very good at his job, impressing his ruthless boss, Cash.
The plot thickens when Tommy decides to mentor Daniel, played by Bryan Greenberg, a former avionics engineer and computer geek, who is new to the cutthroat world of finance. Tommy takes Daniel under his wing, teaching him the ways of high finance and how to navigate social situations, including how to charm women. Daniel, who is somewhat naive and nervous, begins to adapt to this new lifestyle, transforming under Tommy's guidance. However, complications arise when Daniel meets Beth, not knowing she's Tommy's girlfriend. As Daniel becomes more integrated into Tommy's life, he inadvertently becomes part of Beth's social circle, joining her women's book club, which leads to romantic tension and shifts in their relationships.
As the story unfolds, Beth's relationship with Tommy is put to the test with the introduction of Daniel, who brings a different, more sensitive perspective to the table. The film plays with the idea of perception and reality, drawing parallels to Ford Madox Ford's novel "The Good Soldier," which is referenced in the movie. Tommy's character is revealed to be less than the "good guy" he initially appears, engaging in behaviors that challenge Beth's trust and affection. Meanwhile, Daniel's genuine nature and developing bond with Beth create a love triangle that questions the authenticity of relationships in a world driven by ambition and superficiality. The narrative explores themes of honesty, integrity, and the search for true connection amidst the chaos of city life and corporate culture.
Cast
Alexis Bledel as Beth Vest
Scott Porter as Tommy Fielding
Bryan Greenberg as Daniel Seaver
Anna Chlumsky as Lisa
Andrew McCarthy as Cash
Aaron Yoo as Steve-O
Andrew Stewart-Jones as Shakespeare
Denise Vasi as Suki
Jessalyn Wanlim as Jordan
Eric Thal as Stephens
Kate Nauta as Cynthia
Colin Egglesfield as Baker
Adam LeFevre as Billy
Jackie Stewart as Sofia
Monica Steuer as Florist
Darrin Baker as Bobby
Adrian Martinez as Larry
Soundtracks
The Helio Sequence - Lately
Let's Go Sailing - Sideways
Sam Champion - Like a Secret
White Denim - Let's Talk About It
Born Ruffians - I Need a Life
Atmosphere - Party Over Here
Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight
The Helio Sequence - Don't Look Away
The Cliks - Oh Yeah
Ra Ra Riot - Can You Tell
Plushgun - Just Impolite
Mancino - Lavender Lake
Copperpot - The Art of Rap
Sam Champion - Be Mine Everyone
Rachel Platten - Seven Weeks
Stars - Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
Say Hi - Hallie and Henry
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 33% based on reviews from 24 critics. The website's critics consensus, "The Good Guy has an attractive cast, but they aren't done any favors by the film's cardboard characters and cliched plot." On Metacritic the film has a score of 47% based on reviews from 13 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it 3 out of 4 and wrote: "It has smart characters, and is wise about the ones who try to tame their intelligence by acting out."
Andrew Barker of Variety wrote, that "Lacking much of a satirical bite, the pic's quasi-celebration of crude laddishness becomes oppressive."