# Good on Paper
**Good on Paper** is a 2021 American romantic comedy film released on Netflix on June 23, 2021, written by and starring the comedian [Iliza Shlesinger](https://www.edgepedia.org/iliza-shlesinger) and directed by Kimmy Gatewood.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_on_paper) • [2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/good-on-paper) It is based on a mostly true story from Shlesinger's own dating life, in which a man she met seemed ideal on paper but had lied about nearly everything.[3](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/81406319)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | Netflix streaming, June 23, 2021[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_on_paper) |
| Writer / star | Iliza Shlesinger, as stand-up comic Andrea Singer[3](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/81406319) |
| Director | Kimmy Gatewood[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/good-on-paper) |
| Main cast | Ryan Hansen (Dennis), Margaret Cho (Margot), Rebecca Rittenhouse, Matt McGorry, Tyler Cameron[4](https://www.netflix.com/title/81406319) |
| Basis | A mostly true story; Shlesinger says about two-thirds of the film is factually accurate[5](https://entertainmentvoice.com/2021/06/23/iliza-shlesinger-tells-us-how-she-turned-a-bad-romance-into-her-netflix-comedy-good-on-paper/) |
| Runtime and rating | 92 minutes; R in the US (15 equivalent in the UK), TV-MA on Netflix[6](https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/netflix-comedy-good-on-paper-is-coming-to-netflix-in-june-2021/) • [4](https://www.netflix.com/title/81406319) |
| Reception | Metascore 54 (mixed or average); 53% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer from 38 reviews[7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/good-on-paper/critic-reviews/) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_on_paper) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and premise
Andrea Singer, a Los Angeles stand-up comic, has always put her career ahead of love. On a flight home she meets Dennis Kelly ([Ryan Hansen](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-hansen)), a nerdy but friendly co-passenger who, according to the film's setup, seems perfect: smart, nice, successful, and possibly too good to be true.[3](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/81406319) • [8](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/iliza-shlesinger-her-car-wreck-155515747.html) In the film Dennis is presented as a Yale-educated man working in finance.[8](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/iliza-shlesinger-her-car-wreck-155515747.html) Although Andrea initially feels no attraction, the two become friends and then date, until Andrea, helped by her skeptical best friend Margot ([Margaret Cho](https://www.edgepedia.org/margaret-cho)), begins to investigate who Dennis really is.[3](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/81406319) • [9](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jun/22/good-on-paper-review-netflix-iliza-schlesinger)
Netflix categorizes the film as a romantic comedy with the tags [Deadpan](https://www.edgepedia.org/deadpan), Raunchy, Sisterhood, Los Angeles, Irreverent, and Amateur Detective.[4](https://www.netflix.com/title/81406319)
## The true story behind it
Shlesinger wrote, produced, and stars in the film, which draws on a relationship she has described as being with "a real-life sociopath."[10](https://www.glamour.com/story/iliza-shlesinger-faves-faves) She told Glamour that everything the antagonist says in the movie came from her real life, and that writing it was cathartic; the ending, she said, is a bit of revisionist-history wish fulfillment written so that people who have been unjustifiably wronged could feel vindicated.[10](https://www.glamour.com/story/iliza-shlesinger-faves-faves) In an interview with Entertainment Voice she quantified the accuracy: "about two-thirds of the film is factually accurate," with the ending a deliberate revenge twist.[5](https://entertainmentvoice.com/2021/06/23/iliza-shlesinger-tells-us-how-she-turned-a-bad-romance-into-her-netflix-comedy-good-on-paper/) She has described the real experience as playing out like "one very slow, drawn-out car wreck."[8](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/iliza-shlesinger-her-car-wreck-155515747.html)
The story was not new material when the film appeared. According to Benjamin Lee's review in *The Guardian*, Shlesinger had already told it on [Joe Rogan](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-rogan)'s podcast and during a [Comedy Central](https://www.edgepedia.org/comedy-central) special.[9](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jun/22/good-on-paper-review-netflix-iliza-schlesinger)
## Production
[Principal photography](https://www.edgepedia.org/principal-photography) began on November 4, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.[6](https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/netflix-comedy-good-on-paper-is-coming-to-netflix-in-june-2021/) The film was produced by Burn Later Productions and Meridian Content and was produced by [Universal Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/universal-pictures) before Netflix acquired it; the credited producers include David Bernon, Sam Slater, and [Paul Bernon](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-bernon).[11](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/good-on-paper/gL1SA9I93SvXdIMYGOrio1/main/) • [9](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jun/22/good-on-paper-review-netflix-iliza-schlesinger)
Casting Ryan Hansen as Dennis was director Kimmy Gatewood's idea. Shlesinger recalled thinking that Hansen was good-looking while the character needed to be unattractive; Hansen proposed wearing fake teeth, dyeing his hair, and wearing padding for the part.[5](https://entertainmentvoice.com/2021/06/23/iliza-shlesinger-tells-us-how-she-turned-a-bad-romance-into-her-netflix-comedy-good-on-paper/)
## Critical reception
On Metacritic the film holds a Metascore of 54, labeled "mixed or average," based on 11 critic reviews: 4 positive, 5 mixed, and 2 negative.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/good-on-paper/critic-reviews/) Rotten Tomatoes reports a 53% Tomatometer from 38 reviews and a 38% Popcornmeter audience score from more than 250 ratings; its critics consensus reads that Shlesinger "finds some laughs in real-life romantic travails, but Good on Paper makes an overall awkward transition from stand-up to screen."[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_on_paper) IMDb users rate it 5.6 out of 10 from about 15,000 votes.[2](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/good-on-paper)
Reviewers disagreed about what the film does well. Courtney Howard's review in *Variety* (80/100) praised its "razor-sharp witticisms about feminine intuition, gendered sexual politics and relationships."[7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/good-on-paper/critic-reviews/) John Anderson in *The Wall Street Journal* (70) called it "actually an anti-romantic comedy."[7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/good-on-paper/critic-reviews/) David Fear in *Rolling Stone* (60) wrote that when the film turns into a full-blown buddy comedy it goes "from being merely good on paper to being great onscreen."[7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/good-on-paper/critic-reviews/) More negative takes included Benjamin Lee's 40/100 Guardian review, which argued the final act goes "off the rails" with a farcical ending, and Carla Meyer's 25/100 [San Francisco Chronicle](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-chronicle) review, which called the film "nearly laugh-free" while crediting Margaret Cho with trying to "single-handedly breathe life" into it.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/good-on-paper/critic-reviews/)
## References
1. [Good on Paper, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_on_paper)
2. [Good on Paper streaming: where to watch online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/good-on-paper)
3. [Good on Paper, Netflix Media Center](https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/81406319)
4. [Good on Paper, Netflix official site](https://www.netflix.com/title/81406319)
5. [Iliza Shlesinger Tells Us How She Turned a Bad Romance Into Her New Netflix Comedy 'Good on Paper', Entertainment Voice](https://entertainmentvoice.com/2021/06/23/iliza-shlesinger-tells-us-how-she-turned-a-bad-romance-into-her-netflix-comedy-good-on-paper/)
6. [Iliza Shlesinger Comedy 'Good on Paper' is Coming to Netflix in June 2021, What's on Netflix](https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/netflix-comedy-good-on-paper-is-coming-to-netflix-in-june-2021/)
7. [Good on Paper critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/good-on-paper/critic-reviews/)
8. [Iliza Shlesinger on her 'car wreck' dating drama that inspired 'Good on Paper', Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/iliza-shlesinger-her-car-wreck-155515747.html)
9. [Good on Paper review – Netflix dating comedy is OK on screen, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jun/22/good-on-paper-review-netflix-iliza-schlesinger)
10. [Iliza Shlesinger Turned the Worst Relationship Into a Movie, Glamour](https://www.glamour.com/story/iliza-shlesinger-faves-faves)
11. [Good on Paper (2021) Movie, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/good-on-paper/gL1SA9I93SvXdIMYGOrio1/main/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Comedy and romantic films (individual works) › Comedies of 2021 to 2022*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license