Actually, he wasn’t even Good on Paper. Not really. He comes off as a little aggressive, a little defensive, and a whole lot of mediocre. I feel sorry for anybody so insecure that the word “Yale” comes out of their mouth in the first 30 seconds of meeting them. The fact that the Yale connection was a lie leads to a separate plane of insecurity often reserved for men so scared of women they vote Pro-Birth to hide it.
Truth is, I don’t really feel sorry for Dennis (Ryan Hansen) … I mean, a long time ago, we used to be friends but I haven’t thought of him lately at all. I’m sorry, where was I? Oh yes, feeling sorry for Andrea Singer, or to put it more accurately Iliza ShleSINGER. Ms. Schlesinger clearly wrote this film about herself, a stand-up comic with relationship issues…but it isn’t quite in the same ballpark as The Big Sick, now, is it?
And it makes me sad because I do like Iliza Shlesinger, enough to watch her stand-up, at least. But it is quite clear right now that she is not ready to be the 21st Century Woody Allen and may never get another solid chance at being a movie star. But hey, what do I know? I only study these things.
Stung by a series of bad relationships off camera and a terrible audition on camera, Andrea decides she’s going retreat to her safe place of alcohol and adulation, but first it will require a plane ride home. Enter Dennis, a 
nerdy sack of man who likes to humble brag about Yale and hedge funds. Andrea isn’t attracted physically, but seems to appreciate the friendship. Frankly, I don’t even see that, so when it turns out Dennis wants more, I don’t think even Andrea is surprised.
Good on Paper is a dull and annoying film. Even one of my favorite comedians, Margaret Cho, comes off as more of a “partner in crime” than a funny friend. Films like this are excuses for talented comedians to tell jokes and seem appealing to a wider audience. And on that count, this film fails ugly. Shlesinger comes off not so much funny as more of a poor man’s poorer man’s Meg Ryan. The personality I appreciate on stage rarely appears in the film, which makes the movie plot-driven instead of moment driven. And the plot sucks. While I’d –perhaps- be willing to give Iliza Shlesinger another shot at stardom, I’m probably alone; there’s nothing in Good on Paper that suggests the writer, director, or any cast member deserves more than a dog food commercial in the middle of a “Mannix” rerun.
There once was a pro comedienne
Who had a plot about finding her man
Netflix said “green”
So she got her big scene
And promptly flushed her chance down the can
Rated R, 92 Minutes
Director: Kimmy Gatewood
Writer: Iliza Shlesinger
Genre: Failed attempts
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: I really hope Iliza Shlesinger enjoyed this
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Bros
