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Happiness Reviews

1998

70
from 10,279 members

Building on the darkly comic angst of WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE, Todd Solondz's HAPPINESS conveys suburban desperation and frustration on a larger scale than his previous film. The ensemble cast of characters centers around the lives of three sisters: Joy (Jane Adams), an awkward, naive, and unlucky musician; Helen (Lara Flynn .. Read more

Starring	Jane Adams, Lara Flynn Boyle, Cynthia Stevenson, Dylan Baker
Director	Todd Solondz
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of Happiness
View all critics' reviews (4)
- A bleak drama, verging on the misanthropic but lightened by a cutting wit, on the unsuccessful pursuit of happiness, and the subsequent discovery of the joylessness of sex and the damage that people can do to one another in unsatisfactory relationships.
- 30313
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:38
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Happiness
View all members' reviews (95)
- - 36
  - 6
  A Modern Masterpiece!
  
  'Happiness' is quite simply one of the most upsetting, challenging and hilarious films you will ever see. Not for those who are easily offended but then... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 58738
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Phil McMahon
  - Hornchurch, Essex
  - 12 Dec 2004 at 17:46
Most recent members' reviews of Happiness
View all members' reviews (95)
- - 0
  - 0
  Watch it through your fingers
  
  You may not think that seeing life, looking at life, witnessing life, is enough for a film. If you expect to be entertained in a conventional way by thrills and... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1101691
- - RichPickings
  - 150 reviews
  - 'kin Bruges
  - 12 Mar 2012 at 13:53
- - 0
  - 0
  Very funny
  
  But not for prudes. Nothing more to say really. If you can handle paedophilia, cum shots and obscene phone calls then watch it. If not then look elsewhere,
  
  Report this review
- 1100461
- - 1mper1um
  - 34 reviews
  - 08 Mar 2012 at 14:14
- - 0
  - 0
  Watch this film
  
  It's wonderful. I'm putting this in my movie collection. However it's not for everyone. I have else to say about this movie but I need to fill in ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1041071
- - a customer
  - 15 Sep 2011 at 15:45
- - 1
  - 0
  unusual film !! but loved it.
  
  One of the strangest films i have ever seen, quirky, sad ,funny & peculiar. I loved this film & all the performances . Definately not everyones taste... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1020532
- - a customer
  - 22 Jul 2011 at 19:44
- - 0
  - 0
  A view of some lives
  
  A view of unhappy people how are at loose end of what to do with themselves. May be truer to life than you would think. Who thought up the plot?
  
  Report this review
- 1018760
- - a customer
  - 18 Jul 2011 at 12:46
- - 0
  - 0
  a genuine cinematic achievement
  
  highly praised in cannes in 1998, and rightly so, this is a commendable contribution to the breeding genre of suburban paranoia. the most unsavoury taboos are ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1010143
- - lukasz84
  - 62 reviews
  - 26 Jun 2011 at 22:29
- - 2
  - 2
  Happy days!
  
  For some reason even the people who liked this film use terms such as challenging and uncomfortable.
  
  It was neither of these things unless you've... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 942500
- - Dipper
  - 7 reviews
  - London
  - 25 Nov 2010 at 23:56
- - 0
  - 1
  Cringe While You Can
  
  From the get go this film will have you cringing off the egde of your seat, try if you can but you can't stop watching. It covers social taboo's not ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 937975
- - 35mm
  - 10 reviews
  - Jersey
  - 08 Nov 2010 at 09:01
- - 0
  - 1
  Strange but entertaining!
  
  I am beginning to realise that Todd Solondz has a strange view on life but at the same time, people may live their lives in the way he portrays! This film is ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 929582
- - blackgal
  - 211 reviews
  - Worksop
  - 07 Oct 2010 at 10:07
- - 0
  - 0
  A challenging triumph.
  
  This film is slightly slow going, slightly odd. It makes you feel somewhat uncomfortable but thats good! It tackles hard hitting subjects and executes them well... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 915074
- - Roofjee
  - 6 reviews
  - London
  - 16 Aug 2010 at 12:11
View all members' reviews (95)

- - 36
  - 6
  A Modern Masterpiece!
  
  'Happiness' is quite simply one of the most upsetting, challenging and hilarious films you will ever see. Not for those who are easily offended but then... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 58738
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Phil McMahon
  - Hornchurch, Essex
  - 12 Dec 2004 at 17:46
- - 15
  - 4
  Irony
  
  Centred around the lives of three grown up sisters, their families and friends and neighbours, all either pitifully miserable, or deluded into thinking they&#... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 293276
- - ghekkomanic
  - London
  - 15 Oct 2003 at 11:10
- - 12
  - 2
  "Hannah & Her Sisters" it ain't
  
  "Happiness" revolves around three sisters living in New York, but "Hannah & Her Sisters" it ain't! The opening scene sets the tone, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 299613
- - Allan4syth
  - Norfolk
  - 13 Feb 2004 at 12:48
- - 11
  - 4
  Original and risque
  
  This film is very clever and challenging. It is very harrowing and touches on themes which most of us prefer not to have to think about. The darkly satirical ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 4159
- - a customer
  - Llanbedr Pont Steffan, Cymru
  - 04 Apr 2004 at 13:16
- - 11
  - 8
  Mmmmmmmm......
  
  A very well acted film, but with characters evoking so little sympathy I was left uninterested in any of events that befell them. I also would question whether... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 6495
- - Hurdlemagurdle
  - 77 reviews
  - Scotland
  - 26 May 2004 at 11:59
- - 9
  - 5
  Not Funny
  
  Reading the description I expected this to be a bit arty and perhaps fun in a dark sort of way.
  
  The movie touches very, very serious subject matter (... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 133681
- - Anonymous
  - South Wales
  - 07 Mar 2005 at 09:07
- - 7
  - 0
  Wickedly dark, sometimes disturbing but always compelling
  
  Billed as a dark comedy, this is very dark indeed, to the extent that really it played like a very good drama with some comedy in it. Focussing on three sisters... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 109905
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - McClennan
  - 424 reviews
  - St Helens
  - 02 Jun 2005 at 12:06
- - 7
  - 2
  Middle class posturing
  
  No, no, no. This is a long way from clever, insightful drama. It is dull and repetitive and hits out at taboo subject merely to score shock points.
  
  ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 388885
- - a customer
  - Leeds, England
  - 26 Nov 2006 at 00:42
- - 5
  - 0
  Not for Daily Mail readers.
  
  If you can handle Chris Morris, then Happiness is for you. Groundbreaking for American cinema, it touches on some pretty taboo subjects. the pace may be slow ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 70169
- - a customer
  - England.
  - 06 Feb 2005 at 02:46
- - 5
  - 1
  Please don't turn it off
  
  If anyone ever asks if I have a good film they can borrow, this is the one I give them. It ALWAYS get a reaction, the most common one being: 'You sick b***... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 224543
- - Booner
  - Cheltenham
  - 27 Mar 2006 at 11:57

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Critics' reviews
- A bleak drama, verging on the misanthropic but lightened by a cutting wit, on the unsuccessful pursuit of happiness, and the subsequent discovery of the joylessness of sex and the damage that people can do to one another in unsatisfactory relationships.
- 30313
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:38
- "...Tender, shocking, cathartically honest....Solondz leaves us giddy....Breaks through to haunted levels of erotic compulsion that place it close to the hypnotic artistry of BLUE VELVET..." -- Rating: A
- 7868
- - Entertainment Weekly
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...Unique and unmissable....HAPPINESS is potently funny and painfully affecting, often at the same time..."
- 7869
- - Rolling Stone
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- "...HAPPINESS stretches its taboo subject matter to the limits..."
- 7870
- - Sight and Sound
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Happiness
  
  Building on the darkly comic angst of WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE, Todd Solondz's HAPPINESS conveys suburban desperation and frustration on a larger scale than his previous film. The ensemble cast of characters centers around the lives of three sisters: Joy (Jane Adams), an awkward, naive, and unlucky ...