Sunny Sandler shines again.

Adam Sandler has proven his dramatic side with movies like “Punch Drunk Love,” “Uncut Gems,” and “Hustle.” And his second-born daughter Sunny, who was a revelation in “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah,” continues to prove she has her father in her with “Don’t Say Good Luck.” Think about their argument in that comedy when she kissed a boy in a temple, and how it was angry and funny at the same time. And now, think about how here, she gets a role in a school play, while dealing with turmoil in her life. This is a dramedy with few laughs and more drama, and therefore, it delivers with real emotions and great performances.

Sunny stars as high school sophomore Sophie Birenbaum, who is excited to get the lead role of Jenna for her school’s production of “Waitress,” but is sad to know that her mother’s (Melanie Lynskey) cancer has returned for the worst. As she’s preparing for the role under the guidance of her theater director (Stephanie Beatriz), she struggles to understand what her mother is going through. In summation, she’s doing a drama, while being trapped in a real one.

We also have Steve Buscemi and Bebe Neuwirth as her grandparents, who come to visit regarding their daughter’s pathos; Max Greenfield as her father, who tends to butt dial Sophie, which is why she eavesdrops on her parents’ conversations; Scarlett Estevez as her best friend, who doesn’t get a part in the play, but isn’t disenchanted by it; Jack Champion as her crush, who has a role in the play; and good old Jon Lovitz as her father’s deli co-worker who hates the healthy choices they intend to sell to their customers. He even gets “Waitress” confused with “Annie.”

Produced by Adam and Jackie Sandler and directed by Julia Hart (in her first entry since “Hollywood Stargirl”), “Don’t Say Good Luck” doesn’t let us get to know every character in the story, but it does allow us to view the mother and daughter and sympathize with their pain. And they do have moments of whimsy like when they both visit their mall with southern accents and confuse the clothing store and pizzeria employees with their wishes. Sandler and Lynskey are both exceptional in their roles. And the young actress sure can sing as well as her father can. With refreshing cinematography by Bryce Fortner (Hart’s frequent collaborator) and music composed by Yuli, the rehearsals feel real, and the final song couldn’t be more inspiring.

I viewed a cynical comedy called “The Musical” from the Sundance Film Festival, and its premise regarded a disgruntled playwright and middle school teacher who disguised a 9/11 school play as “West Side Story.” And I also saw “Run Amok,” a well-meaning but under-developed drama, which had a girl doing a play regarding a school shooting which she lost her mother to. I think “Don’t Say Good Luck” is the one that should have played at this year’s festival instead of the other two. This one cares about the main characters, acknowledges drama comes in both acting and in real life, focuses on a play far different from “Annie” or “West Side Story,” and allows us to try to find the joy through the turmoil. It’s enough to bring tears to your eyes, and if her mother is terminally ill, then it’s not easy to deal with. This new Netflix dramedy understands that well.

It may be also distributed by Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison company, but like “Hustle,” this doesn’t rely on his stupid funny humor to qualify as an entry. It relies on different angles of his family tree. And given Sunny’s performance, the fruit doesn’t fall far from it.

Now Streaming on Netflix