Happily Ever After (Ils se Marierent et Eurent Beaucoup d'Enfants) (2004)

57% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(3,006 ratings)

Vincent and Gabrielle are married, have stable jobs, a healthy son and a harmonious relationship. Yet, after a series of failed attempts at revitalizing their marital routine, Vincent begins a heated affair with another woman and Gabrielle spins into introspection -- while hiding from Vincent that… More Vincent and Gabrielle are married, have stable jobs, a healthy son and a harmonious relationship. Yet, after a series of failed attempts at revitalizing their marital routine, Vincent begins a heated affair with another woman and Gabrielle spins into introspection -- while hiding from Vincent that she knows of his infidelity. Distraught at the state of her marriage, Gabrielle wanders in anguish and is eventually drawn towards a random man whom she spots inside a Virgin Megastore. The handsome stranger glances at her while both listen to the same song. And mysteriously, the two of them share a fleeting but intensely intimate moment in the middle of an anonymous crowd. When he leaves the store, Gabrielle is even more vulnerable than before. Concomitantly, and in comedy crisis mode, George and Nathalie argue loud and violently -- the former suffocating in his wife's feminist demands and the latter feeling trapped in a monogamous relationship. Looking for solace, George buys an expensive Mercedes and turns to his old friends, Vincent and Fred. Although all three men keep each other company, even their weekly soccer games and poker nights do not protect them from mid-life anguish. Fred is still single -- and proudly so. He sleeps with a series of spectacular women and plays the role of liberated straight male for his pals. But while Vincent and George struggle, with no success, to understand Fred's sex appeal, they cannot see that Fred also yearns for a change of pace.

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Yvan Attal, Maryo J. De los Reyes
Written By: Yvan Attal
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 8, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Oct 11, 2005
Studio: Kino International

Critic Reviews

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Gets bogged down in midlife-crisis cliches.
Allison Benedikt, Chicago Tribune
Attal knows that no matter how adult we feel when we say, 'I do,' marriage is all child's play: jealousy, lies and pure, unconditional love. Perplexing, but not a bad option.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
There's nothing much wrong with the film; my complaint is that there's nothing much right about it.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Happily Ever After is never as insightful or as funny as Woody at his best. But the film has a fine-tuned approach to human behavior.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
A meditation on the joys and frustrations of monogamy that manages to be a diverting and funny character study at least most of the time.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
Whether any of them will live happily ever after is a question you're left pondering long after this challenging film comes to a close.
Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses
full review in Greek
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
It's French, it's sexy, and Johnny Deep makes a cameo. Your female roommate will love it. Mine did!
Marta Barber, Miami Herald
This is an affair to forget.
Laura Kelly, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Attal taps into that unexpectedness -- the inability of just one person to captain the course of a relationship no matter how hard they try -- and he plays it for all it's worth.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
There are a few quality moments, but this fairy tale is far from enchanting.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Whatever points screenwriter/director Attal is trying to make about relationship envy get lost as the marital conflicts become more contrived and shrill.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Attal doesn't illuminate Vincent's motives for straying, and unwisely suggests Vincent's philandering and Gabrielle's daydreaming are somehow morally equivalent.
Robert W. Butler, Kansas City Star
In a world filled with empty lust and marital discord, Yvan Attal's wistful comedy is about a guy who loves his wife.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
The story in the French Happily Ever After is about as exciting as that bland, mistranslated title. But the filmmaking? Very exciting.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
A sour, grating comedy-drama about fidelity and infidelity among the Parisian bourgeoisie...certainly won't send you home with a smile on your face.
Rob Blackwelder, SPLICEDWire
Attal is creative in crafting cinematic mood, using focus and camera movements to subtly but deftly enhance and even anticipate emotions.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stefanie C

i really enjoyed this film's cross-section of people dealing with various facets of coupledom, love, fidelity, marriage, etc. the elevator ride with johnny depp was quite poetic and a wonderful close to the film.
Mark A

An interesting study of three men who are friends, in different marital situations, and who have different approaches to love and happiness. It explores fidelity and what constitutes happiness within the family unit. Charlotte Gainsbourg is lovely in this as Gabrielle, wife of Vincent… More
An interesting study of three men who are friends, in different marital situations, and who have different approaches to love and happiness. It explores fidelity and what constitutes happiness within the family unit. Charlotte Gainsbourg is lovely in this as Gabrielle, wife of Vincent (Yvan Attal). Some bizarre games transpire between these two and the cover art is taken from one of those playtimes. Lots of interesting camera work, a lively script, and some lovely actors keep things from becoming too trite, but it's not all that deep either. Mildly entertaining at best.
alan j

this is a really realistic story and fine acting especially by the core cast. The only problem i had with it is the ending seems to be inserted smack dab in the middle of the story, which left me a bit confused. Its a bittersweet tale about marriage; an old subject to be sure, but… More
this is a really realistic story and fine acting especially by the core cast. The only problem i had with it is the ending seems to be inserted smack dab in the middle of the story, which left me a bit confused. Its a bittersweet tale about marriage; an old subject to be sure, but refreshing with this french perspective. Enjoy!