Another Happy Day (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Ellen Barkin, Ezra Miller, Ellen Burstyn, Demi Moore, Thomas Haden Church, Kate Bosworth, George Kennedy, Jeffrey DeMunn, Siobhan Fallon, Diana Scarwid, Michael Nardelli, Daniel Yelsky, Laura Coover, Eamon O'Rourke Director: Sam Levinson Summary: Upper-crust family… More
  Cast: Ellen Barkin, Ezra Miller, Ellen Burstyn, Demi Moore, Thomas Haden Church, Kate Bosworth, George Kennedy, Jeffrey DeMunn, Siobhan Fallon, Diana Scarwid, Michael Nardelli, Daniel Yelsky, Laura Coover, Eamon O'Rourke Director: Sam Levinson Summary: Upper-crust family dysfunction takes center stage in this drama, which stars Ellen Barkin as a divorcée attending the highbrow wedding of the son she barely knows and trying to hold her own against a family that couches judgment in every smile. My Thoughts: "I often watch these types of films with mest of families. Who doesn't like watching these films and then sitting back and comparing your own twisted little bunch to the made up one on the screen? I usually win with my family being more screwd up, but I have finally found one a bit more messed up then my own. I mean the mother Doris, is a manipulative cold Bitch of a mother. Lynn's siblings resemble Cinderella's wicked step-sister's. Her father is in a bit of a zombie state. Her middle son has major issues, and not just drugs. Her youngest seem's to be the forgottern one. Her only daughter is a self mutilater because of her traumatized childhood. Then there is her oldest son, who seems to be the one who turned out to be the only unflawed one of the bunch. Lynn believes that may be because she didn't raise him. There is also the ex-husbands wife played by Demi Moore, who played Bitch so well I wanted to pull her through the screen a beat her myself. There is a lot happening and more reasons why this family is in a complete mess of emotions. It's a beautiful, dark, sad, and sometimes funny indie drama. I love these movies. Their full of flaws but always a film that will make you feel, sympathize, and care for the characters. That much has to do with the actors. Because it's always an indie flick that brings out a great honest performance from an actor/actress. My opinion of course, but I'm pretty sure my opinion is right lol. Lastly, the performances were absolutely fanstastic. Ellen Barkin blew me away."

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"I was the one who was always there...not you."</i> A wedding at her parents' Annapolis estate hurls high-strung Lynn into the center of touchy family dynamics. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"I was the one who was always there...not you."</i> A wedding at her parents' Annapolis estate hurls high-strung Lynn into the center of touchy family dynamics. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Sam Levinson has woven a dark dramedy of epic proportions as Lynn (Oscar-worthy performance by Ellen Barkin) drives her two sons to her mother's house for the eldest son's wedding. Through it all the audience witnesses the public and private meltdowns and sentimentality's of this flawed, and deeply human family. From Lynn's confrontation of her divorcé husband (Thomas Haden Church), to her drug-addled, caustic-mouthed son Elliot's (genius performance from Ezra Miller) flirtation with grandpa's meds, to catty quips from Lynn's sisters, past trauma, guilt, and resentment flow onto the screen. What rises from this fertile emotional landscape are frightening moments, and hysterically funny scenes. For the audience it's an event, but Lynn and her boys it's just 'Another Happy Day.' Humor is the pallet cleanser for this hearty cinematic meal. The viewer fears for Elliot's life after he nearly OD's on the bathroom floor; then breaks into hysterics as Elliot tries to hide his blue lips with mom's rouge, the following morning. It's all so funny, and so smart. You will be crying as much from laughing as you will from the sorrowful scenes. Performances cut deep with their stark realism. From Ellen Barkin's Lynn, Ezra Miller's Elliot, Ellen Burstyn's Doris, down to 14 year old Daniel Yelsky's Ben - someone is going to get an Oscar nomination here. And if not, then the critics aren't ready for Levinson's dark blend of laughs and tears.

• Walter M

  
  "Another Happy Day" starts with Lynn(Ellen Barkin) driving her two younger sons, Elliot(Ezra Miller) and Ben(Daniel Yelsky), cross country to attend the wedding of Dylan(Michael Nardelli), her oldest son from a previous marriage. However, she is not exactly looking forward… More
  "Another Happy Day" starts with Lynn(Ellen Barkin) driving her two younger sons, Elliot(Ezra Miller) and Ben(Daniel Yelsky), cross country to attend the wedding of Dylan(Michael Nardelli), her oldest son from a previous marriage. However, she is not exactly looking forward to seeing her ex-husband Paul(Thomas Haden Church) and his current wife Patty(Demi Moore). Well at least a therapist will be officiating. And if that is not enough, there is an ambulance in the driveway when they arrive, but luckily it is only a false alarm for her father(George Kennedy) which makes her mother(Ellen Burstyn) feel a little better for now. All of which might explain why Elliot gets so stoned that he does not realize he is wearing two different color socks. Like its many characters, "Another Happy Day" is not perfect but it is keenly observed in hitting on some truths of a family separated by time zones like this one. While happy to see each other after such a long time, there are also many snap judgments, as some people's scars are more obvious than others', just as the viewer makes his snap judgments about these characters who eventually grow beyond the initial caricatured impressions.(But, oh that poor dog!) That fits in well with Eliot's theories about weddings and funerals. In other words, there is one uniting form of grief(Unless greatgrandad was a Nazi which would be awkward.) but many different opinions on ways to make people happy. And that also speaks to one of the movie's flaws in stating something outright when it is better implying. For example, the one time it insinuates something, the result is devastating, turning the movie on its edge and in Lynn's favor as it eventually becomes clear that she is doing her best to hold things together under not the best circumstances. So, while at first her husband Lee(Jeffrey DeMunn) may seem like the most boring person on earth, he is exactly what she needs in making her laugh.