Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dying woman seeks father for her child; language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
In Good Hands
What's the Story?
In IN GOOD HANDS, Melisa (Asli Enver) is a single mom raising her 6-year-old Can (Merte Ege Ak) with little or no help. They share a bedroom. She brings him to the restaurant where she works. Understandably, they are close, but he refuses to go to school, has no friends, and is overly attached to her. The separation anxiety she has created out of what she describes as her cowardice and weakness leaves her scrambling to find a permanent caretaker for him when she discovers she has only five months left to live. She has lied to him about who his father is and now she's roping in a handsome playboy type, Firat (Kaan Urgancioglu), a highly unlikely candidate for fatherhood, into falling for her and Can. Inexplicably, Firat transforms from a prickly and self-centered player into someone who enjoys Melisa and is amused by the quirky Can. A plot twist changes our understanding of everything and offers if not a happy ending, then at least one that makes sense.
Is It Any Good?
While In Good Hands cleans up its muddy beginnings to end beautifully, it takes a long time to get going. Without giving away any spoilers, it's sufficient to say that much of this makes absolutely no sense until the major plot point is revealed around two-thirds of the way in. Up to that moment, it's only the good work of three talented performers, Urgancioglu, Enver, and Ak, keeping us interested in this implausible and irrational premise.
The script leans toward cutesy a little too often. A collection of toilet paper plays a role that's hard to justify. And parents and kids may want to discuss the way that a seemingly loving mother is almost too devoted to her child, not forcing him to attend school because he prefers being with her, not bringing others into their lives to enable him to become socialized and comfortable among people. These seem like mild forms of child mistreatment by a well-meaning parent trying to cope with her own isolation. She's loving and kind, but it often feels as if her over-nurturing and isolation has created an unpleasant kid with unrealistic expectations and inappropriate behaviors.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the difficulty of raising a child as a single parent. What are some of the obstacles Melisa tries to overcome as she cares for Can?
Why do you think Melisa doesn't force Can to go to school? Do you think she's doing the right thing by allowing him not to go? Why or why not?
Can wants to know more about his father. How do you think single parents should handle explaining the absence of a parent to kids? Did Melisa do a good job? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 21, 2022
- Cast : Asli Enver , Kaan Urgancioglu , Mert Ege Ak
- Director : Ketche
- Inclusion Information : Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : March 23, 2022
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