Is ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ based on a true story?
The Sunny Sandler comedy on Netflix, Don’t Say Good Luck, tugs at viewers’ heartstrings in a way that cannot be put into simple words. This is probably why the audience is all the more curious about whether the comedy is actually based on a true story.
Directed by Julia Hart, the Netflix comedy stars Sandler as high school sophomore Sophie Birenbaum, who unexpectedly lands the lead role in her high school play of Waitress while auditioning for a supporting role, only to learn that her mother’s cancer has relapsed.
Don’t Say Good Luck follows Sophie’s journey around the school rehearsals, which are packed with awkward teen chemistry and drifting friendships, as she navigates the overbearing grief and uncertainty surrounding her mother’s health and their entwined. While the film is not short of funny elements and quirky moments, what adds real warmth is how personal the story is.
For those curious, screenwriter Laura Hankin co-wrote the script inspired by her own real-life story, which Hart and Jordan Horowitz subsequently collaborated on.
Speaking of Don’t Say Good Luck’s real-life inspiration, Hart revealed, “It’s based on Laura’s own real-life story of when she got the lead in her high school musical at the same time that her mom’s cancer came back. Because it was so deeply personal and specific, it just feels so real. Even if it’s not exactly their story, people can feel connected to it.”
When Hankin courageously shared her story, she became Sandler’s ultimate source of inspiration. “That was the hardest part for me, to portray a person that actually went through this,” she said, “It was also the most beautiful part of it.”
According to Hart, it’s the characteristic vulnerability that led to Don’t Say Good Luck staying faithful to the way they envisioned it. They wanted to use the art form to convey the bigger message of using creativity to overcome hardships while building a support system to see you through the tough times.
“The whole point of the movies is that Sophie learns how to work through the difficult things in life and channel her emotions through art,” she explained, “It’s a reminder of the power of art. She made something that gave us all such a beautiful community and lifelong friends.”
So, if you’re planning to tune in to Don’t Say Good Luck, better keep that tissue box ready because what you may have initially approached as a fictional storytelling has very real origins that will most definitely make your eyes well up.