“green book” movie review

I loved Green Book.

I don’t care that most of the movie is predictable and that it hits almost every racial stereotype you can think of. It’s powerful, important and simply a joy to watch because of its appealing two leads. (Actually three leads: Linda Cardellini is fantastic as Tony’s wife, Dolores, although she’s not onscreen as much as you’ll want her to be.)

Based on a true story, the premise is that Tony (Viggo Mortenson) is hired to drive pianist extraordinaire Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) across the country on his concert tour. Because he’ll be playing in the Deep South, where he will have to deal with segregation and blatant racism, he’s been informed that Tony — an Italian-American nightclub bouncer — is more than able to act as a bodyguard as well as a driver.

Tony is a character. He’s puffed up, full of fast food and full of himself, and Mortenson just eats up this role — along with a couple dozen hot dogs and an entire pizza. You’ve never seen him like this, and he’s both hilarious and heartwarming.

Ali is right there with him, although his performance is more subdued, subtle and elegant. Together, they are a team to be reckoned with.

Part buddy movie, part road trip movie, part Driving Miss Daisy, the film takes it name from the actual Green Book, which was published for 30 years all the way into the 1960s, to “give the Negro traveler information that will keep him from running into difficulties, embarrassments and to make his trips more enjoyable.”

Tony, of course, becomes enlightened as he sees what his charge has to go through on a daily basis. But the erudite Dr. Shirley has some lessons to learn from Tony, too. The trip changes both of them in profound ways, and is a reminder of the importance of getting to know people as individuals rather than simply as interchangeable members of any kind of group.

Considering its subject matter, Green Book is a surprisingly feel-good movie and a must-see this holiday season.