The Good Fairy: A Bit Too Sweet, A Little Too Chaotic

Is this for you?

If you like movies that move at a frantic, almost headache-inducing clip, you’ll probably find this a hoot. It’s for the folks who enjoy screwball comedies where the plot hinges on one massive, avoidable misunderstanding. If you have no patience for wide-eyed naivety or characters who refuse to just tell the truth for five seconds, you will absolutely hate it. 🧚

Margaret Sullavan is the engine here. She plays Luisa like she’s vibrating at a frequency only dogs can hear. When she gets out of that orphanage, she’s so determined to be a 'good fairy' that she starts making up a husband just to keep the local men from bothering her. It’s a bad plan. It’s the worst plan.

The whole thing feels a bit like watching someone try to juggle glass ornaments while riding a unicycle. It shouldn't work, but sometimes it just does. There’s a specific scene where she’s trapped in a room with a waiter who clearly has better things to do, and the timing is just… sharp. It’s not graceful, but it’s fast.

I noticed the way the camera hangs on her face right after she tells a particularly wild lie. She looks terrified, but she’s also clearly enjoying the chaos she’s unleashed. It’s a weird, tiny moment that stuck with me.

Notes from the couch

• The dialogue is pure Sturges, which means everyone is talking over each other at 100 miles per hour.
• The waiter is the real MVP of this movie. He just looks exhausted by the sheer stupidity of the human race.
• It feels a bit like Ever Since Eve in terms of the 'let's lie to everyone' energy, but with more lace.
• Some of the side characters feel like they wandered in from a different movie entirely. I don't mind it.

There are moments where the film hits a wall. The plot starts to tangle itself up so badly that you stop caring about the 'why' and just wait for the next funny face Sullavan makes. It’s not trying to be a masterpiece. It’s just trying to be loud and busy.

Is it perfect? No. The middle section drags its feet while everyone runs around in circles. But then you get a sudden burst of wit that reminds you why you’re still watching. It’s a bit like an old friend who tells the same story three times but makes it funnier each time. 🥂

I’m not sure if it holds up to a second viewing, but for a rainy Tuesday? It’s fine. Just don't think too hard about the ethics of being a 'good fairy.' You’ll get a headache.