Adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name, The Good House is an intriguing drama, elevated by the presence of Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline. Weaver stars as Hildy Good, a dogged and successful real estate agent in the small town of Wendover, Massachusetts. She uses her vast knowledge of the area to help people find the right house. After years of success, Hildy’s personal problems are starting to affect her professional life. A functional alcoholic, she desperately needs to close a couple of deals. With pressure mounting, a former employee, Wendy Heatherton (Kathryn Erbe) is stealing all her clients, her youngest daughter needs help with her rent and the payment on her range rover is due.

Making matters worse, her friends and family recently confronted her about her alcoholism. A halfhearted attempt at rehab has done nothing to curb her drinking. Amidst her struggles, Hildy tries to project an air of confidence while dealing with her daughters. Hildy is also reigniting her relationship with former flame Frank Getchell (Kline) a handyman/jack of all trades who serves as a voice of reason for Hildy.

Directed by Maya Forbes and Wally Wolodarsky, The Good House gets more involving as it takes a dramatic turn. A phenomenal actress, Sigourney Weaver has been doing supporting roles in film for years. It’s nice to see her in a leading role that showcases her talent for characters with steely resolve and unexpected vulnerability. Unfortunately, The Good House isn’t nearly as compelling as it clearly wants to be. The film loses focus when Hildy breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience in a sarcastic tone. I found it to be a real momentum killer. Problematic too, are the number of competing subplots littered throughout the narrative. Even so, Weaver shines here, despite the film’s issues.

Despite getting co-star billing, Kevin Kline is little more than a member of the large supporting cast. He and Weaver have some definite chemistry. The other supporting cast, particularly Rob Delaney who puts in a memorable as a local psychiatrist, is solid, though many of the performances are brief. The Good House is Sigourney Weaver’s show.

Presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and shot by Pose cinematographer Andrei Bowden Schwartz, the 1080p transfer highlights the lush tones, blue waters and colorful leaves of the seaside environment. Colors pop beautifully throughout, and detail levels are excellent. Strangely, there’s noticeable banding in the opening titles, though there are no issues with the main feature.

The Good House features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that handles this dialogue heavy film well. Surround activity is handled nicely, particularly during outside scenes. Dialogue is clean and clear throughout.

English SDH and Spanish subtitles are included.

Along with a digital copy, the following special features are available:

  • Audio Commentary with Writers-Directors Maya Forbes & Wally Wolodarsky
  • Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery: The Good House (HD, 2:25)
  • Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:27)