Happy Endings

This movie was on my list for a long time and I'm not sure how I originally heard about it. Several big names: Lisa Kudrow, Jason Ritter, Tom Arnold, Maggie Gyllenhaal - but I don't remember seeing ads for its 2005 release. At any rate, I've seen it now! Huzzah!

What is it about this movie that makes it so hard to explain? Happy Endings is one of those drama-comedy flicks about 10 different characters intersecting through various relationships and conflicts. You know those? Like... Love Actually is one of those I guess. The thing that makes this film so different is its quirky brand of self-consciousness. What the hell do I mean by this? Am I just trying to sound pretentious? No! For real: hear me out on this one.

First of all, the movie is called Happy Endings but to read the premise, you would think that it's quite the opposite (i.e. guy blackmailing Lisa Kudrow with information about the baby she gave up for adoption... you know, the baby she had with her gay stepbrother at age 17? yeah, happy). Furthermore, the first shot of the film includes Kudrow getting hit by oncoming traffic after running through the woods crying while being followed by men yelling at her. Happy! But interestingly, as soon as this happens, we see the first in a series of title cards explaining that she's not going to die, and that actually: the movie is a comedy "sort of." These little title cards come in from time to time to either reassure the viewer that everything is going to work out, or to give background information about a new character. Very helpful, considering the plot is rather complicated and extensive in scope. This self-consciousness moves to a new level in the epilogue, during which the title cards essentially take over, even referencing an "I" who is unseen. Funnily enough, the movie really is a comedy. I produced audible laughter at least half a dozen times, which is notable, and the ending is actually.... pretty happy. Also, Maggie Gyllenhaal sings a lot:

Well crafted story while not wholly compelling. I was definitely invested in the characters' journeys, but even though the title cards were needed at times to intellectually clarify the tone, I was still left emotionally unclear. Written explanation does little to change the effect of what we're visually digesting, even when it is lightening the mood. The performances really saved this one for me. Each actor was arguably in best form, especially Lisa Kudrow who may or may not have redeemed herself to me for life. Seriously.... whoa Lisa..... whoa. Without the incredible casting and acting happening here, this would be a totally different story... I mean, review. Weak link was Jesse Bradford (also the brother from Bring it On, so... yeah), but we're talking 1 downer in a stellar ensemble cast, so I'll let it go.