I hate to bag on small indie movies, especially when they’re tackling an important subject, but “The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg” never rises above feeling like a very low budget made-for-TV drama. Inspired by concerns over pharmaceutical accountability and mental health, the film clearly has its heart in the right place. Its messages about the dangers of corporate greed and the need to take mental health seriously remain worthwhile. Unfortunately, good intentions can only carry a film so far.
The story follows Amanda Bellaconda (Hannah Fierman), a grieving mother searching for answers after the death of her son, and psychiatrist Dr. Jack Forteo (Andy Evans), who begins to suspect that a blockbuster acne medication may be linked to a wave of teen suicides. As Forteo digs deeper, he finds himself targeted by the powerful pharmaceutical company behind the drug, leading to professional attacks, personal struggles, and a battle against corporate interests determined to protect their billion-dollar product.
It sounds like a decent premise on paper, and films about whistle blowers, corporate corruption, and medical ethics have produced some genuinely gripping dramas over the years. Unfortunately, the execution never comes close to matching those ambitions.
The writing is often clunky and heavy-handed, the eventual courtroom drama unfolds in a painfully familiar fashion, and much of the acting feels amateurish. Several emotional scenes are so poorly done that they come across with unintended humor, making it difficult to connect with the story on the level it demands. Making this a straightforward documentary would’ve been a lot smarter that trying to stretch a fictional narrative out of the idea.
Despite a lot of issues, there is an undeniable sincerity behind the project. Writer and director Doug Bremner is clearly passionate about the issues he’s exploring, and that earnestness occasionally shines through the rough edges. While his film is ultimately a dull and poorly executed drama, Bremner’s concern for a serious subject gives it a sense of purpose that’s more admirable than the film itself. “The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg” isn’t a good movie, but it’s one that comes from a place of genuine conviction, which counts for something.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 