Don't Say Good Luck (2026) Movie Review

Don't Say Good Luck (2026) Movie Review: Drama-Lite

We were surprised to find out that Don't Say Good Luck was produced by Adam Sandler and stars his daughter, Sunny Sandler. With that in mind, we didn't expect much from the film. But the Sandlers and serious films have proven to be a winning combination, and Don't Say Good Luck continues that streak. It's emotionally impactful and thought-provoking, with musical sequences that effectively heighten the drama even further.

Sophie (Sunny Sandler) is a 16-year-old who has just landed the leading role in her high school's production of the Broadway musical Waitress. But as she prepares for the role, she discovers that her mother (Melanie Lynskey) is dying of cancer. Sophie must now decide whether to put her high school dreams on hold to spend more time with her mother.

We wouldn't say that Don't Say Good Luck is a complete film experience. In fact, one of our biggest gripes is that it does the bare minimum when it comes to exploring the complexities of its premise. At around 90 minutes long, the film feels a little too short and streamlined. It spends very little time developing the intricacies of modern teenage life, where Sophie has to balance crushes, broken friendships, family drama, and even seemingly simple school activities that can feel life-changing at that age. The film could have benefited from spending more time exploring Sophie's relationship with her mother and the difficult choices she had to face. Instead, it often moves quickly from one emotional beat to another. But even this trimmed-down approach still manages to be moving and emotionally resonant.

At the center of it all is Sunny Sandler, whose performance captures Sophie's immature vulnerability and emotional uncertainty. We were also pleasantly surprised by how well her musical performances turned out to be with the film's climactic scene an emotional banger. Ultimately, Don't Say Good Luck may be a little too light when it comes to exploring the depth of its premise but it still manages to make a lot of emotional impact. It may not be a complete drama, but what it does deliver is sincere, heartfelt, and surprisingly effective. 

Rating: 3 and a half reels