‘Good Bad Things’ shines with romance, realism of disability

We’ve all seen a hundred movies or shows or documentaries about the difficulties and struggles of living with disability, and we all know their usual tones and heartstring-tugging attitudes.

They’re always very arms-length, very “there but for the grace of God.” They’re always focused on the tragedies and the life-changing triumphs, and more often than not, they’re presented as tear-jerking feel-good stories tailored perfectly to get that coveted “inspirational” tag on the poster.

But for many in the real-life disabled community, they’re often manipulative and exploitative.

Real people don’t always want inspiration. Real life with disability isn’t always a daily battle against the world’s most horrifying monster, and being disabled isn’t the single worst thing that could happen to someone.

These are just people with lives and families and frustrations and friends and – if they’re lucky, just like if anyone is lucky – love.

And that’s the general idea behind the brand new limited-engagement feature “Good Bad Things,” screening nationwide at AMC Theatres in a one-night premiere event on August 15th with a follow-up matinee screening on Sunday, August 18th. 

First-time director Shane Stanger developed the film as a showcase for his best friend and co-writer Danny Kurtzman, who stars as the appropriately named Danny.

Kurtzman lives with muscular dystrophy and uses mobility aids and physical assistance in his daily life.

He’s also a writer, actor, model, and fashion entrepreneur who advocates for the global disability community while refusing to be boxed into the usual “handle with care” packaging that disabled people often find themselves forced into.

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Danny Kurtzman in “Good Bad Things”

Together, Stanger and Kurtzman developed the idea of building a stylish, indie romantic comedy around Kurtzman and the realistic (albeit fictionalized) experience of their own life.

The result is “Good Bad Things,” a sleek, dreamy romance peppered with comedy and stuffed with genuine emotion, that’s blown up the festival circuit and took both the Grand Jury and Audience Award prizes at the acclaimed, hyper-indie Slamdance Film Festival.

The conceit is simple: Danny is a recently dumped graphic designer and boutique ad agency owner angling for a contract with the hottest new dating app. He downloads the app for “research,” makes a profile, unexpectedly matches with the girl of his dreams, and then risks sabotaging it all with overthinking and self-doubt.

Does that sound like every other rom-com plotline? Yeah, pretty much. That’s kind of the point. Stanger and Kurtzman wanted the story to reflect all the ways that life with disability can be just like any other life, including being the dramatically self-sabotaging lead in an idealized, wish-fulfillment cinematic romance.

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Danny Kurtzman and Jessica Parker Kennedy in “Good Bad Things”

But that’s not to say that Danny’s disability is relegated to a background afterthought. It’s a major part of the plot just like it’s a major part of his life.

When he first makes his dating profile on the app, he crops his photo and hides his disability. 

He panics when his match, Madi, wants to meet up and he doesn’t know whether or not to warn her and explain. When things get serious between them and a surprising opportunity arises, he lets his own fears and hang-ups about being exploited for his disability get in the way.

But he always has agency as a character. He makes decisions – good and bad – and he’s a rounded person with rich, complex life and mind. 

He’s not a prop intended to be “inspirational.” He’s just a dude with a hilarious best friend and a cool job and a bunch of insecurities.

Jessica Parker Kennedy radiates charm and sweetness as Madi and Brett Dier steals every scene as Danny’s hysterical and endlessly supportive best friend Jason (based at least loosely on Stanger himself.)

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Danny Kurtzman and Brett Dier in “Good Bad Things”

But it’s Kurtzman who shines brightest in a standout performance that provides practically every opportunity for him to show what he can do.

It’s a great, simple, solid indie romance, gorgeously shot and fantastically well-acted.

But (much like Lyric’s recent ASL-infused production of “Cinderella”) it’s a revelation for the disabled community to see a story that reflects the actual experience of just living and navigating life, in all its emotions and dramas, with a disability.

And while that should all be enough for anyone to make the effort to check out “Good Bad Things” as soon as they’re able, there’s actually another reason for OKC audiences to get excited.

Oklahoma Connection

OKC native A.J. Cutler served as editor and post-production supervisor on “Good Bad Things,” and was even on set during shooting to help consult and develop the bigger picture throughout production.

I was able to chat with Cutler over the phone from his current home in Los Angeles ahead of the film’s nationwide premiere event, and he explained that, in addition to feeling more proud of this project than any before, he also brought a very personal connection to the story.

“The subject matter was very important to me,” he explained. “I was a three-sport athlete in Oklahoma, and my whole plan was to play sports in college and probably work in sports, but I actually lost my leg working in an oil field in 2007.”

Forced to reconsider his path in life, Cutler turned to his other passion and eventually moved from OKC to LA to explore his love of cinema and filmmaking.

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A.J. Cutler

Being able to bring his own experience and insight as a disabled person to “Good Bad Things” was a powerful opportunity.

“As a permanently disabled person, I really wanted to figure out what the tone of this film was, because there’s a tone that I don’t want to be a part of, and it’s a pity tone,” he told me. “I really wanted to make it a point that this was not a ‘disability film.’ This is about a guy who happens to have a disability, and he’s in his own way, just like everybody else.”

Cutler will be in attendance in OKC for the one-night viewing at AMC at Penn Square on August 15th, along with an already nearly sold-out crowd.

“I come back to Oklahoma multiple times every year and I’ve watched the film community just grow exponentially and it’s just made me so happy,” he said. “I’m so excited to bring this movie back there now because I think the city will accept it and is built for it, and I’m just excited to know that cinema is alive and well there now and that there’s a real community for this movie.”

“Good Bad Things” screens in a limited engagement exclusively in AMC Theatres Thursday, August 15th at 7:00 PM and again Sunday, August 18th at 2:00 PM, including AMC Penn Square and AMC Quail Springs in Oklahoma City.

A wider theatrical and streaming release is being eyed for the future.
For more information, and tickets for the limited engagement screenings, visit amctheatres.com and goodbadthings.com.


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Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.