The Good Guy 2009

Beth Alexis Bledel is a young Manhattanite and urban conservationist who yearns for a life that balances a fulfilling job, loyal friends, and a partner to share it with. She falls for Tommy Fielding Scott Porter, a charismatic and successful investment broker who seems to have everything—brilliant wit, a thriving career, and the ear of a ruthless boss, Cash Andrew McCarthy.

Tommy takes Daniel Seaver Bryan Greenberg, a former avionics engineer and computer whiz, under his wing as he enters the cutthroat world of finance. Daniel is eager to learn the rules of high finance and the social art of charm, and under Tommy’s guidance he begins to adapt to this new lifestyle. The twist comes when Daniel meets Beth, not realizing she is Tommy’s girlfriend. He starts moving through Beth’s social circle and even joins her women’s book club, which pulls him deeper into a life and a crowd he hadn’t anticipated.

As the plot thickens, Beth’s relationship with Tommy is tested by Daniel’s presence and perspective—one that is more sensitive and genuine. The film toys with the idea of perception and reality, and it nods to Ford Madox Ford’s The Good Soldier, hinting that the truth of a relationship can be obscured by appearances and ambition. Tommy’s seemingly flawless image begins to crack as his actions challenge Beth’s trust and affection.

Daniel’s authenticity and his evolving bond with Beth create a compelling love triangle that asks: what does it mean to be honest, to be kind, and to find a true connection in a world dominated by money, power, and surface-level appeal? The narrative uses the city’s glittering façades and the fast-paced corporate chase to explore deeper themes of integrity, vulnerability, and the longing for something real. In the end, the story remains a meditation on choosing sincerity over cynicism, choosing connection over convenience, and choosing a path that might be messier but is ultimately more human.