Even in the later stages of his magnificent career, Michael Keaton remains one of our best working actors. Throughout his near 50 years in the industry, Keaton has proven to be a skilled performer who routinely challenges himself. As a result, he owns an incredibly diverse filmography. In just the last few years we’ve seen him play a CIA agent, a crooked amusement park owner, the U.S. Attorney General, and a hitman while also reprising his popular roles as Batman and Beetlejuice.

At 73-years-old, Keaton is showing no signs of stopping and we should all be grateful. His latest film is “Goodrich”, the sophomore big screen effort from writer-director Hallie Meyers-Shyer. “Goodrich” is an endearing family dramedy that’s propelled by another lights-out Michael Keaton performance. It’s a movie that may be a bit cliche in spots but that features plenty of emotional depth which connects us to its central character and his relationships with those closest to him.

Keaton plays Andy Goodrich, an art dealer who has ran his own Los Angeles gallery for 28 years. But times are tough for Andy’s business. He’s struggling to pay his rent and his artists aren’t selling. His close friend and accountant Cy (Kevin Pollak) has informed him that unless something changes he runs the risk of losing his gallery. This is uncharted territory for Andy who has always felt he had everything in his professional and personal life under control.

But the real jolt of reality comes when Andy receives a phone call in the middle of the night. On the other end is his much younger second wife Naomi (Laura Benanti) who surprises him with the news that she has checked herself into rehab. It comes as a complete shock to Andy who has been so enthralled in his gallery that he didn’t even realize his wife was abusing prescription meds. She explains that it’s a 90-day program and he will need to take care of their twins, Billie (Vivien Lyra Blair) and Mose (Jacob Kopera). Naomi ends their conversation with the solemn words “I’m leaving you.”

From there the film follows Andy as he discovers some painful truths about himself, namely how disconnected he has been from his family and their lives. Much of his revelation comes through the rekindling of his relationship with his older daughter from his first marriage, Grace (Mila Kunis). She’s a successful entertainment writer who is happily married and pregnant with her first child. It’s a really good performance from Kunis who shrewdly balances Grace’s love for her father with the resentment she has for the many years he was absent.

Throughout Andy’s journey he gleans more about his family from the other people in their lives. It builds towards a somewhat predictable yet resonating redemption arc made stronger by Keaton’s effortless authenticity. It helps that Meyers-Shyer never turns him into a bad guy. He’s oblivious to his own complicity, yet sympathetic and likable from the get-go. Keaton does the rest, really capturing the heart of his character and delivering an emotional punch, especially to fathers like me. “Goodrich” hits theaters October 18th.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS