Parents' Guide to Green Book

Mortensen and Ali both give fabulous performances in this road-trip drama that's part buddy comedy, part history lesson, and part social commentary on friendship and race. Green Book director Peter Farrelly, best known for raunchy comedies like There's Something About Mary, brings out the humor in Tony and Dr. Shirley's interactions; he allows the actors to shine in completely opposing ways. Mortensen immerses himself in showy Bronx bravado, while Ali is a picture of nuanced restraint, with plenty of emotion simmering beneath the surface. Both portrayals are award-worthy, as are Ali's musical performances (he went through extensive piano training to pull them off).

It's not easy to revisit a time in history when gifted Black artists could entertain all-White crowds but not sit or dine among them—or even use the same bathroom. Dr. Shirley refuses to lower himself via vulgarity or even by listening to popular music (he can't tell Aretha Franklin from Chubby Checker), and he fully understands that the moment he steps off stage, he's just another Black man to the White audiences who moments earlier applauded his talent. Unfortunately, Green Book's story is more about Tony than Dr. Shirley, who's infinitely more self-aware—and also more of a mystery. It's a missed opportunity that Dr. Shirley's personal life isn't explored via more than a couple of references to his estranged brother and a failed marriage and one poignant monologue about not fitting into either White or Black society. Especially considering that viewers meet nearly all of Tony's large Italian family, including his more open-minded wife, Dolores (Linda Cardellini), to whom he writes (with help from Dr. Shirley) increasingly poetic love letters from the road. Ultimately, this movie tries to teach viewers about racism, but by centering a White character and using tired racial clichés, it defeats the purpose. What's left is something slickly produced and engaging to watch but not entirely honest.