Colson Baker, better known to most as Machine Gun Kelly, is a refined rapper, singer, musician and actor. Recently, he added the title of screenwriter and director to his list of many talents following the release of his debut directorial film, Good Mourning, which Kelly co-wrote and co-directed alongside Mod Sun.
Good Mourning is a stoner comedy to the core, similar to Dazed and Confused (1993) and Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). The fact that the trailer for the movie dropped on April 20 (4/20) with it being released a month later on May 20, should say enough about its overall essence.
The film doesn’t take itself too seriously and it doesn’t attempt to, which in itself is commendable. Good Mourning is at times utterly preposterous, foolish and raunchy, but nonetheless enjoyable to both viewers and very clearly, those who contributed to the making of the film.
Machine Gun Kelly stars as the lead, London Clash, a television star who wakes up to a text from his fellow movie star girlfriend, Apple (Becky G), which reads “Good Mourning,” followed by “I wish I didn’t have to do this thru text.”
Immediately Clash begins to spiral into believing she is breaking up with him after she fails to take his calls or text him back.
Funnily enough, the whole premise of the movie was inspired by a real life incident where MGK misinterpreted a text from his, at the time, new girlfriend, now fiancé, Megan Fox, in which he was convinced she was breaking up with him.
Like all celebrities should do when dealing with a great deal of emotions, Kelly called up Mod Sun and essentially said, “Yo, let’s make a movie about this.”
A few years later, a proposal instead of a breakup, low and behold, Good Mourning.
Joining MGK, Becky G and Mod Sun in acting are Megan Fox, best friend, Pete Davidson, Dove Cameron, Whitney Cummings and cameos from Avril Lavigne, Amber Rose, YG, Dennis Rodman and Trippie Redd.
The Cleveland-native tweeted, “casting for ‘Good Mourning’ was basically me and mod scrolling through our contacts going ‘hey, do you wanna be in our movie,’” a tactic which proved to be a recipe for success.
The comedic timing throughout the film is impeccable, with one-liners filled with stupidity and no real message, as the film showcases an exaggerated version of a day in the life of a bunch of stoners.
Between MGK trying to cope with the idea that his girlfriend might be potentially breaking up with him and him landing a meeting with a director to discuss playing the newest Batman, all in the same day while declaring weed as the sole solution to every problem that arises, there is ultimately a lot of chaos that occurs for the completely baked characters.
From having to substitute marijuana ashes for human ones, getting slapped in the face with water balloons by Trippie Redd and confronting a talking blunt (see below) the said “problems” are outrageous, yet hilarious.
Clash tackles all of the issues thrown his way in a manner that only consequently leads to more problems, driving what little there is of a plot, further.
MGK on the other hand, though, through his scenes, proves he has a playful personality, as much of his acting and lines are based on his real life and professional career. The role as Clash has remnants of his performance as Tommy Lee in The Dirt, due to his eccentricity and excitement.
Knowing many perceive MGK as a deeply serious, stone-cold rapper, is at times unbelievable, especially seeing he is best friends with Pete Davidson, and this film only confirms that misconception couldn’t be further from the truth.
Aside from MGK, Megan Fox and Pete Davidson live up to their reputations as actors and steal every scene in which they appear. In fact, so much to the point, the only disappointment was that there wasn’t more of Davidson in the film.
According to an interview with The Daily Beast, Mod Sun said Davidson improvised every scene he was in, acting in true Pete Davidson fashion and validating his comedic expertise. Ultimately, Davidson’s scenes were arguably, the most entertaining and genuine.
Good Mourning isn’t by any means an Oscar-award-winning film, but the film works because it isn’t meant to be. Good Mourning is a preposterous, outlandish, kind of stupid (but in the best way), mindless watch that is aimed to make viewers laugh and regress from all of the actual problems of day to day life.
If anything, the film demonstrates Kelly’s versatility as an artist, both musically (given his music is integrated throughout Good Mourning) and as an actor, screenwriter and director.
Now, all fans need is a film where MGK and Davidson star along each other as co-leads, and then maybe, just maybe, an Oscar wouldn’t be off the table for the two.
Good Mourning is available to watch on streaming platforms such as Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime and is playing in select theaters.
