Green Book (2018)

Tough-guy bouncer is facing a multi-month layoff, so agrees to take a job driving a black pianist to his performances down south. This is basically The Odd Couple on wheels -- but with racism! That's not to say it's bad; matter of fact, it's pretty much a prime example of a crowd pleaser. But it IS broad.

Tony "Lip" throws trash out of his car window, takes his wife for granted, tosses out glasses that negroes sipped from, barely makes ends meet, and is a general fuhgeddabowdit tough guy. Don Shirley is a cultured and celebrated musician, has plenty of money, travels with a lap blanket, and has never enjoyed fast food. But wouldn't you know it: spending time with someone might just teach you that -- despite initial prejudice --  they're human just like you. You might even become friends.

I've seen it before and done better, but I'm not going to ding this movie for that. I'm sure the "real" story was a little less tidy than this one, but this was a good time at the theater anyway.

B-