Rating: "The Good Night" is a fake documentary about a washed-out rock star, Gary (Martin Freeman), who's so disenchanted with his disappointing life that he'd rather spend it asleep. He's not depressed, per se. It's just that there's this really hot woman in his dreams, Anna (Penelope Cruz), who lavishes him with come-hither looks, kisses and ego-boosting support.
As his real-life relationship with Dora (Gwyneth Paltrow) deteriorates, he grovels more and more for Anna. He consults a dream guru (Danny DeVito) for tips on maintaining his dream state, and he soundproofs his bedroom, turning it into a cave. The idea of dream obsession was captured with much more skill and art in Michel Gondry's "The Science of Sleep.
" While Gondry perceptively explored the wondrous yet sadly stark disparity between dreams and waking life, director and writer Jake Paltrow (brother of Gwyneth) relegates it to a quirky premise in "The Good Night," complete with gurus, books, exercises and acolytes. Then there's the whole fake documentary premise. Gary's friends comment on his life to the kind of unspectacular effect that most people have when talking about someone whose life just isn't that interesting.
Paltrow could have easily ditched the documentary interludes, which retard the story like a dullard interrupting an interesting conversation. Somehow, in spite of and sometimes because of the distracting quirks, the film has its charms, thanks largely to an immensely likeable cast. Ironically, as unconventional as the movie tries to be, it's the most conventional story -- Gary's troubled career and love life -- that engages you the most.
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