Directed by Rodrigo García from a script by him and Eli Saslow, Four Good Days is based on a true story. It tells the story of a mother’s relationship with her drug-addicted daughter, with the film exploring the ups and downs of their dynamic and how it’s been affected by opioid use. While the film’s leading cast gives fantastic performances, Four Good Days lacks focus and fails to expand upon its emotionally powerful moments.
Four Good Days follows the story of Molly (Mila Kunis), a heroin addict, and her mother Deb (Glenn Close). After some time, Molly has returned back home to seek help from her estranged mother. Deb is adamant about not allowing Molly to come back into her life, not believing her daughter’s promises about wanting to get clean. The last time Molly promised such things, she stole several things from Deb and disappeared. After a while, and thanks to Molly's stubbornness, Deb lets Molly back in, hoping things will be different this time around, with Molly promising to — after 14 previous attempts — to finally detox for good. All Molly has to do is stay clean for four more days and she will have the option to take a monthly shot that will prevent her from getting high from opioids, so she stays with her mother while trying to get her life back on track.
Four Good Days is able to explore the long-standing tension between Molly and Deb and it’s the driving force of the story. There’s a lot to be mined from the issues that plague their relationship and lack of closeness — Molly’s disappointment with her mother for leaving during her teenage years, Deb’s disappointment in Molly for going back on her word to get clean over again, and so on. They have a lot of unresolved issues between them and when the film is focused on their relationship, how they’ve hurt each other and how this new chapter in their lives might be a way to start over, it makes for a few moving scenes.
That said, the film is all over the place. García and Saslow’s script often takes detours to focus on subplots that detract from the emotional effectiveness of the story. At one point, Molly goes in search of a young woman she claims wanting to help, though nothing ever comes from it and it doesn’t really work to elevate the story; Deb, in two scenes, blames the medical industry for their role in the opioid crisis — something which is incredibly warranted, especially since Molly’s addiction began with painkillers in high school — but it also falls short with regards to delving into that aspect. It’s treated as more of a footnote than a scathing critique. Four Good Days doesn’t dig deep enough and treats drug addiction with little nuance overall, only engaging in surface-level discussions and ideas about it and its impact on Molly and her family. Meanwhile, Deb’s relationship with her eldest daughter, and the wedge that exists there because of her heightened focus on Molly, is glossed over.
Mila Kunis and Glenn Close’s performances are strong, elevating the film in ways the screenplay and direction fail to do. There are some emotionally resonant moments that allow the pair to bring so much more to their characters, including a scene that sees Molly’s son shouting “you suck” after playing video games with her. There’s a pregnant pause that illustrates the distance between Molly and her kids, the guilt she feels for missing out on much of their lives, and the slight resentment they must have for her as well. It’s a scene that thoroughly embraces the tension and it's all the better for it.
The film could have used far more scenes like this — showing the effects of Molly’s addiction on her and others instead of telling the audience, which renders the story hollow. It would have made the film all the more powerful. Four Good Days has its fair share of emotionally charged and thoughtful moments, but they’re overshadowed by rote storytelling that isn’t as focused on deepening the relationship at its core. The film takes too many detours, as if to avoid exploring Molly and Deb’s dynamic, which makes for an overall underwhelming watch.
Four Good Days is now playing in theaters and is available to watch on demand. The film is 100 minutes long and is rated R for drug content, language throughout and brief sexuality.
Let us know what you thought of the film in the comments!