It’s every woman’s worst nightmare: you meet the seemingly perfect guy who has it all figured out, only to find out that his entire life is one big lie. But for stand-up comedian Iliza Shlesinger, that nightmare was her reality. Based (mostly) on a true story (or rather, a real lie), “Good On Paper” is Netflix’s latest romantic comedy, which stars Schlesinger as Andrea, a thirty-something comedienne struggling to break into the acting game in Hollywood.
With a stagnant career and a non-existent love life, Andrea takes a chance on love when she hits it off with Dennis (Ryan Hansen) after meeting him by chance at the airport. Dennis seems too good to be true: a Yale-educated hedge fund manager with a charmingly awkward personality and close relationship with his family. However, as Andrea and Dennis get more serious, she begins to realize that her would-be perfect boyfriend isn’t all that he says he is—or even any of it.
The film’s seemingly by-the-numbers, lifetime-style plot is bolstered by the fact that the first 2/3rds of the story actually happened to Shlesinger, who also wrote and produced the film in addition to starring in it. However, it’s Shlesinger’s voice and authoritative command of the narrative that elevates it beyond something you might find on the Hallmark channel—mostly due to its raunchier comedic elements and clever structure. The way the film is set up isn’t entirely unlike a “Seinfeld” episode, complete with an opening stand-up set from Andrea about the film’s premise, which is then referenced and cut back to as the film progresses, and things go from bad to worse.
Even with the extra boost of originality, though “Good On Paper” is still a fairly predictable rom-com that takes a while to get going. It isn’t until things really take a turn for the crazy that the film is anything more than your standard forgettable chick flick. The standup itself isn’t particularly funny, either, which is odd considering it’s Shlesinger’s bread and butter both in the film’s narrative and in real life. In fact, most of the film’s most memorable moments come from when “Good On Paper” strays the furthest from its premise and leans into the pure insanity that is the third act. When things really go off the rales is when “Good On Paper” is at its best.
To her credit, though, Iliza Shlesinger makes for a solid lead. Pulling triple duty as writer, producer, and star is no small feat. Although her delivery can sometimes be clunky, Shlesinger shines in the film’s more far-flung moments, especially when she’s playing off the balls-to-the-wall energy Margaret Cho brings to the table. Shlesinger, as the lead, also is burdened with doing the majority of the film’s emotional heavy lifting (when it slows down from the hidden identity hijinks enough to delve into such moments), and there’s a surprising amount of depth and sincerity to Shelsinger’s performance that one may not have expected from a career comic.
Speaking of career comics, though, Shlesinger is often outshined by her aforementioned co-star Cho, who plays Andrea’s spirited, rough-and-tumble, bar-owning best friend and provides most of the film’s film funniest moments. Unfortunately, she’s used sparingly, surprisingly so considering that she’s perhaps the film’s most recognizable name — unless your a member of Bachelor Nation, in which case you’ll delight in the cameo from “The Bachelorette” runner-up Tyler Cameron. Still, though the film probably could’ve used a little more Cho, her lack of screen time makes the scenes where she is present even better.
Rounding out the ensemble is the man of the hour, Dennis, played by Hansen. Dennis is the perfect kind of deceptively slimy that you can see through him while still seeing how Iliza/Andrea may have fallen for him – but similarly to Iliza, his performance isn’t anything to write home about either. His approach to the role is somewhat reminiscent of James Norton in “Things Heard & Seen,” another hidden identity Netflix thriller from earlier this year. Hansen isn’t quite as good as Norton, though, but by no fault of his own — the “Good On Paper” script simply isn’t the type of vehicle built to showcase any powerhouse performances.
Though the rom-com can at times feel predictable and hokey, the film is self-aware enough to understand that it shouldn’t be trying to reinvent the wheel, and the result is a perfectly serviceable and sometimes genuinely funny rom-com bolstered by a few standout supporting roles and the strength of its premise. While it may not top must-watch lists any time soon, “Good On Paper” is a sturdy B-movie romp if you’ve got an hour and a half to kill. [C]