Since he first burst onto the scene inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,Rupert Grinthas channeled an effortless everyman vibe that we can all relate to. Yet one of his most underrated aspects is hisability to portray nuanced characters who are loveable despite their weaknesses and fallacies. However, one black comedy used this trait to good effect, completelyflipping Grint’s nice, affable personalityon its head.
Written byNat SaundersandJames Serafinowiczand directed byMatt Lipsey,Sick Noteis a black comedy that stars Grint as Daniel Glass, a laid-back guy who fakes cancer because of the way people in his life start treating him better now that he’s a cancer patient. Other cast members includeNick Frost,Pippa Bennet-Warner,Don Johnson,Marama Corlett,Lolly Adefope,Belinda Stewart-Wilson,Karl Theobald,Matilda Thorpe,Camilla Beeput,MilesRichardson,Daniel Rigby, andLindsay Lohan.
‘Sick Note’ Gives Us Rupert Grint in a Role That’s Tailor-Made For Him
The first episode introduces us to Daniel Glass (Grint), a lazy slacker who’d rather play video games and discuss the merits of having a relationship withMarylin Monroewith a stranger than put up flyers for his girlfriend’s missing cat that he’s accidentally killed. He decides to keep that last bit from his girlfriend Becca (Bennet-Warner) because he feels their relationship is already on thin ice, and the only thing keeping them together is the fact that they haven’t finished watchingGame of Thrones.It’s the kind of thinking that we’ve all entertained at one point, but only Grint could’ve pulled it off whilelacking remorse or care for the consequences.
As it turns out, not only is Daniel’s calculation completely off-kilter, but things are also about to go from bad to worse. On the same day that he gets dumped, his boss also fires him from his job, and then Daniel finds out that he has cancer. For all of us who’ve watched Grint grow up on the screen,it’s hard not to feel bad for poor Daniel despite his less-than-stellar boyfriend qualities.The expressions, the tone of his voice, everything hits the spot, and you root for him to turn things around even as you know it’s all going downhill.
10 Ron Weasley Quotes That Prove He’s the Best Character in Harry Potter
Where would we be without our Won Won?
‘Sick Note’ Proves That You Can Never Go Wrong With Nick Frost
Daniel’s situation finally improves because of the incompetent Dr. Glennis, played bythe ever-reliable and always-hilariousFrost.With his gruff and bumbling demeanor and comic timing, Dr. Glennis reveals that Daniel’s diagnosis had been wrong and he doesn’t have cancer. For most people, this would be great news, but anyone who thinks Daniel’s normal didn’t get the memo. The problem with Daniel, at least one of the many, is thathe’s gotten fond of the sudden outpouring of sympathy, attention, and carehe’s been getting from everyone since his cancer diagnosis became known. Having gotten used to the good turn of events, he doesn’t want all that attention to go away because of something as useless as good health. On the other hand, Dr. Glennis, the inept substitute doctor, doesn’t want to get fired for his blunder.
When Daniel convinces Dr. Glennis to play along with him and pretend to cure him of cancer over the next six months in return for Daniel not reporting him to the authorities, we know we’re in for a treat. Daniel faking cancer and dealing with the web of lies that ensues forms the basis of this underrated dark comedy that deserves a second chance. This is classic Grint territory, and he knocks it out of the park. Grint is supported by a wonderful cast, led by his partner in crime, Frost, who’s made a career out of playingnormal-seeming characters thrown in crazy situations. However, other characters who keep the laughs coming include Daniel’s boss, Michael (Theobald), who’s about to fire him before he goes to the clinic. Then there’s Kenny West (Johnson), who throws f-bombs like confetti. Daniel’s buddy Ash (Tolu Ogunmenfun) isn’t even in on the secret and bawls uncontrollably on hearing about the cancer. Finally, there’s Linda (Corlett), Daniel’s work crush, who suddenly gives him more attention than he’s ever had.
‘Sick Note’ Works Because of Grint’s Believability as a Down-On-His-Luck Slacker
The whole premise ofSick Noteborders on the absurd. It’s implausible when you think about it, but the trick is to let someone perfectly suited for the role, as Grint is, try it on and then run with it. For Grint as Daniel, the situation seems like something that could only happen to him.Sick Noteexcels in shining a light on a dark subject such as cancer, which often doesn’t get talked about, and then discussing its ramifications in a dark yet poignantly funny manner. For that, the credit must again go toGrint’s understated yet spot-on portrayal of a slackerwho gets in over his head with a lie and then tries to stay one step ahead.
Sick Notedeserves to be seen because of Grint and how he succeeds in channeling the common, slacker, laid-back vibe that we can all relate to. His efforts at giving legs to a lie, even as it snowballs on him, is what drives this underrated dark comedy.
Sick Noteis available to rent on Amazon Prime in the U.S.
