The Good Night

The debut feature by Gwyneth Paltrow’s brother Jake is a well-meaning neurotic comedy that never quite clicks. The plot reflects the film’s Woody Allen-meets-Michel Gondry premise: A British musician (Martin Freeman) finds that his mid-life crisis and unhappy relationship with an art dealer (Gwyneth Paltrow) are remedied by dreams of an ideal woman (Penelope Cruz). When his friend (Simon Pegg) arranges for him to meet the real-life version of his dream babe (also Cruz), the film should kick into high gear but instead remains amiable and undistinguished.

Shelf Talk: The Good Night didn’t do well in theaters (it was released on only a handful of screens), but viewers might be drawn in by the cast. Freeman is known for starring in the British version of The Office, which still plays on PBS stations around the country, while Cruz and Gwyneth have their fans. But the second bananas are more likely to attract attention—Danny DeVito (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) plays Freeman’s dreaming “coach” and Pegg, star of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, is excellent as his horny best friend.