Recent Reviews for Happy Endings
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MCT:July 18, 2008too twisted and wierd some stories you get some u dont some confuse some make u fell sad yet they connect effortlessly.
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MCT:May 13, 2008Because of actors in it, I gave this movie a shot. At the start, it was entertaining to watch them do scenes together as the story (several stories) unfolded. Unfortunately, so thin and combining 3 of them to try to fill up a movie didn't really keep me interested. I sat through the whole thing and can spare anyone looking for a story here. The story doesn't cut it and there is no great "reveal". Looks like it was written and produced by a college student. Maggie and Tom are in good form, but the movie is very forgettable. Save your time and skip it.
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MCT:April 28, 2008An interesting film with lots of stories intersecting into one another. While some stories are better than others, the cast are great. Lisa Kudrow and Steve Coogan play against type and show that they are great dramatic actors while Maggie Gyllenhaal makes a money grabbing songstress amazingly likeable. There will be something here for everyone as a lot is covered and for the most part this is a great comedy/drama.
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MCT:March 15, 2008HAPPY ENDINGS (2005)
directed by Don Roos
starring Lisa Kudrow, Steve Coogan, Maggie GyllenhaalVarious characters intersect over a long period of time in Los Angeles. A woman (Lisa Kudrow) who gave up her child for adoption as a teen is dating a mexican guy (Bobby Cannavale) on whom a young man (Jesse bradford) is doing a documentary and when the project is over he'll tell her where her child is now. Lisa Kudrow's character's step-brother (Steve Coogan) - also the child's father - is gay and his boyfriend donated sperm to his best friend (Laura Dern) - a lesbian - and they fight over who the real dad of her kid is. While, at Steve Coogan's character's restaurant, there is a young man (Jason Ritter) with a band - he is gay too - and he meets a girl (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and she falls for his father (Tom Arnold). Yeah, it quite simple I know.Happy Endings start out trying to be a bit too quirky but then things get fixed and go on the right way but its still doesnt get that interesting. None of the plot line are entertaining but they arent boring either, just alright. All the way through the film, the screen split and gives us informations on the characters which arent always useful but sometimes funny.
Happy Endings is neither a real comedy or a drama cause we never really laugh, only smile and its not particularly moving. Its plays out alright and it feels a bit too long. The ending is over twenty-minute long.
The best thing about this film is the cast, all giving fairly good performances, my favorite being Tom Arnold in an honest role and Lisa Kudrow showing that she is much talented. Bobby Cannavale is interesting as well. Not a bad movie but nothing memorable about it either.
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MCT:February 23, 2008A quirky comedy... The characters are not necessarily likable but on the other hand, their flaws aren't anything you would fault them for... so in the end, you feel happy knowing that they have "happy endings"... and if you feel that way about them, then the movie was able to accomplish its intention of allowing you to relate to the characters. By the way, it seems quite coincidental that many times when I watch movies, the same actor or actress ends up in them. In this case, it's Maggie Gyllenhaal. I just finished watching Stranger than Fiction, and then watched this movie, too. Last month I saw Delicatessen, and recently I saw Diva, both with Dominique Pinon. PS. I didn't realize Otis was played by Jason Ritter, John Ritter's son.
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MCT:January 29, 2008
happy endings was a decent enough film. good to see a character study that doesn't get too intense and self righteous. Lisa kudrow is pretty good in this movie. there's some pretty bizarre Maggie Gyllenhall on Tom Arnold action in this. and a lovely appearance by laura dern.
they do actually tackle some deep issues but they don't get to melodramatic about it, unlike many other films. -
MCT:January 15, 2008
Its a funny movie -- a bunch of characters intertwined - gay and straight, honest or not. Perhaps it was too late in the evening when I watched it, but I was having troubles with all the connections even though they do their best to explain them to you.
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MCT:December 31, 2007
Before seeing 'Happy Endings', I had only heard good positive things about it from friends. After viewing it, I couldn't possibly see what all the hype was about. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't that great either. It's a very so-so comedy-drama that isn't that funny or compelling. In the fashion of 'Magnolia' or 'Crash', it's a film about different interactions and coincidences of the big ensemble cast of characters. 'Happy Endings' seems to follow the pursuit of happiness and love between a group of Hollywood misfits.
Mamie (Lisa Kudrow - Friends) is a psychologist at an abortion clinic who is currently dating a swave hispanic masseuse, Javier (Bobby Canavale - NBC's miniseries 'Kingpin'). One day Mamie is found by a potentially dangerous but overall stupid wannabe documentary filmmaker (Jesse Bradford) who blackmails her into making a documentary about her finding her long-lost son she gave away as a teenager, when she got pregnant by her now homosexual step-brother, Charley (Steve Coogan - BBC's I'm Alan Partridge). Then we go to Charley's story. He still stays in touch with Mamie, and has a supportive boyfriend. His boyfriend and him donated some of their sperm to a lesbian couple (consisting of Laura Dern (The Truman Show) and Sarah Clarke (FOX's 24)). Supposedly the "gay" sperm didn't take, but one day Charley starts to suspect they lied and that their son is really the product of his boyfriend. Charley works in a nightclub where a young gay-in-denial works, Otis (Jason Ritter - John Ritter's son). Then we move onto to Otis' story. He still lives at home with his rich father who tries to cool to be hip (Tom Arnold), and is the drummer of a so-so kind of band. The band gets a new lead singer, Jude (Maggie Gyllenhaal - Secretary) who has sex with Otis, but ends up getting engaged to his father - WEIRD-O-RAMA. 'Happy Endings' is an extremely dysfunctional story that has a vast amount of potential, but never finds it way into being captivating.
I can't recommend this film, unfortunately, but if you sometime spot it on television and there is nothing else on, maybe consider watching it. The acting is good for the most part with strong performances from Lisa Kudrow, Steve Coogan, Bobby Canavale, Jason Ritter and especially, Maggie Gyllenhaal who is perfectly cast as a crazy slut. Tom Arnold seemed to lack some dramatic skills needed for his part and Laura Dern hardly even had a part. Dan Roos provides kind of 'eh' dialogue and his direction is nothing to write home about. If you decide to see 'Happy Endings', I'm warning you, you may not like it. Grade: C+ -
MCT:November 26, 2007
I don't know. It was an on-off movie from the start. Not really mi taste in movies. I think Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a "safe role" in this movie.
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MCT:November 16, 2007I thought this was a great movie. Definitely not what I expected. It was funny and original. Lisa Kudrow looked so beautiful too!
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MCT:November 5, 2007
I barely remember any of this movie -- although I think Tom Arnold gets together with Maggie Gyllenhaal, a concept that has much to commend it...
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MCT:September 17, 2007
this was a very good comedy drama with great performances from lisa kudrow, steve coogan, maggie gyllenhaal and - i cannot believe i'm saying this - tom friggin arnold! the storyline was quite gripping and i thought the way it was told was quite original too.
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MCT:September 10, 2007
This is definitely a dark film that not everyone would enjoy. There are plenty of funny moments and most of the multiple characters are interesting. The director does a nice job in bringing it all together.
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MCT:August 19, 2007
Love a good indie flick, but this one wasn't as good as I'd hoped. I thought the ending left alot of unanswered questions which was highly annoying for me. Very watchable little film though, in saying that.
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MCT:August 8, 20073 Original Story In A Movie That's Something Rare In Hollywood I Really Really Liked This Movie So Much And Lisa Kudrow is EXTEREMLY Talented I Hope I'll See Her In More Movies
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MCT:July 11, 2007
it was a pretty good movie. it is a few stories melded into one and it is a crash without all the violent.
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MCT:June 25, 2007
Verry good chaircter based film about flawd people and dishonesty. Interesting story telling style ties 3 intermingling plots together in a very good way.. a new favorite
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MCT:June 14, 2007
This is a well made muti-character comedy/drama that is nicely written and has really good performances by its cast (Lisa Kudrow, Maggie Gyllenhaal and, believe or not, Tom Arnold give the best turns). Alittle overlong but I really enjoyed it.
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MCT:June 6, 2007
A must-see, just for Gyllenhaal's singing. Special kudos go to Kudrow and Jesse Bradford. Coogan is a little uncomfortable though.
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MCT:June 2, 2007
I've watched this a couple of times actually and quite like it. It's got it's funny moments, but theres an overshadowing hint of melancholy too.
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MCT:June 2, 2007
Pretentious Indie film that thinks it's clever. It has its moments, but loses all sympathy from me for the way it deals with abortion. Trying to pretend to be neutral, it features a character who chooses not to have an abortion and florishes, an abortion advisor who insists on not being pro-life but actually is, and a character who actually has an abortion and is doomed by the writers to live unhappily ever after. It's a film dealing with difficult subject matter and doing it no justice at all.
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MCT:May 27, 2007An extremely well written, directed and acted movie of the kind that only independent cinema could ever offer. This takes the now familiar device of intertwining characters and storylines (a la Go, Heights, Look Both Ways etc.) and breathes new life into it. The film shows a fundamental truth of human nature; that people lie. And not always to be deceptive, but out of habit, or because it's easier, or without realising it. Don Roos, as in his earlier flick The Opposite of Sex, writes vivid, multi-layered and three-dimensional characters, and shifts between them and their different storylines effortlessly.
In addition to the excellent writing and direction, the film is graced with a compeling cast, all of whom deliver fantastic performances. I always enjoy Lisa Kudrow's work outside of Friends, and this is probably her finest film to date. Maggie Gyllenhaal excels with typical flair as a sultry, coniving character that lesser actors would've portrayed as unsympathetic or overly kooky. Instead, Gylenhaal gives a finely nuanced performance, and who would've thought she'd have a great singing voice too? Jesse Bradford is as good here as he was in Heights but plays a very different character, showing he has talent with the right director guiding him. And Steve Coogan especially impresses with an emotionally heavy role, despite a pretty wobbly accent.
If you want to see what a talented writer/director and a great cast can do on a small budget, then look no further.
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MCT:May 23, 2007
Wonderful study of love and secrets. Perfectly acted and well directed. A little on the long side, but kept me captivated till the very "un"happy ending.
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MCT:April 29, 2007
totaly worth watching, 3 parallel storys, that have a relation... kind of enoying sometimes though :P
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MCT:April 26, 2007
This is a great comedy, havent seen any of Don Roo's other movies but this is one I really liked. Great cast and script. Check this one out.
