Ah, Christmastime, the perfect time of year to watch those snuggly, bubbly, feel-good classics.
Technically a holiday movie, “Goodbye June” seems to have missed the memo about what audiences want during the festive season. Instead of warmth, cheer, or even bittersweet nostalgia, it delivers a heavy, depressing story about a dying parent and the chaos that ensues in a family already stretched thin. Watching four adult siblings scramble to navigate their mother June’s (Helen Mirren) sudden decline just before Christmas is not the kind of entertainment that leaves you feeling uplifted.
Directed by Kate Winslet (and written by her son Joe Anders), the film follows a familiar, well-trodden path. The siblings (Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough), each with their own unresolved tensions, are forced back into the family home where long-simmering resentments bubble to the surface. Their exasperating father (Timothy Spall) adds another layer of friction, while June (Winslet) herself (though quick-witted, humorous, and attempting to orchestrate her own decline) can’t quite carry the film. The story leans heavily on clichés: the “fractured family reunited by crisis,” the “quirky dying parent doling out life lessons,” and the predictable reconciliation moments. There’s nothing particularly new, interesting, or refreshing in the narrative, and the movie offers little to surprise or engage viewers.
It feels cruel to be too critical of the film as Winslet clearly tried to inject personal experience and sincerity into the story, drawing from her own life and her relationship with her mother. Yet while the authenticity is evident, it’s not enough to save the film. The tone feels heavy-handed as it tries to balance grief, humor, and reflection in a way that never quite lands. The comedic elements feels forced, the dramatic beats are phoned in, and the emotional arcs are overly familiar. That mean you’re often left with the sense that you’ve seen every moment before in more effective and compelling ways (and in much better movies).
The holiday backdrop only highlights how bleak the film is. Christmas is used as a framing device, but instead of joy or hope, the film emphasizes family dysfunction, illness, and impending loss. It’s hard to imagine anyone watching this in the weeks leading up to the holidays and ever wanting to revisit the feeling of depression and sadness that the film brings.
A downer wrapped in tinsel, “Goodbye June” is a somber, slow-moving drama masquerading as a holiday film. It has competent performances from the lead cast and does make a sincere attempt at exploring family dynamics and mortality, but sincerity alone can’t make a story compelling. The film is predictable, emotionally draining, and ultimately forgettable.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 