Happiness | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

83% Tomatometer 48 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings

This dark ensemble-comedy is centered on the three Jordan sisters. Joy (Jane Adams) moves through lackluster jobs with no sense of purpose. Now employed teaching adults, she is dating a student, Russian taxi-driver Vlad (Jared Harris). Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle) is an esteemed poet who becomes amused by her perverted neighbor, Allen (Philip Seymour Hoffman). And eldest sister Trish (Cynthia Stevenson) is married to Bill (Dylan Baker), a psychiatrist with a very disturbing secret life.

Happiness

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Happiness is far from a cheerful viewing experience, but its grimly humorous script and fearless performances produce a perversely moving search for humanity within everyday depravity.

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Critics Reviews

View All (48) Critics Reviews
Happiness | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Paul Tatara CNN.com As sharp as some of the writing is, Solondz is still not enough of a director to successfully negotiate this emotional minefield. Feb 7, 2018 Full Review Happiness | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: A Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Happiness | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Exhibits an almost pitch-perfect balance between condescension and compassion. Rated: B+ Oct 20, 2009 Full Review Happiness | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope What makes this movie so effective is how it humanizes characters who are often marginalized or dehumanized by society. It shows us that the reason we hate people like this is not because they are so different from us, but because of our shared humanity. Rated: A Nov 5, 2023 Full Review Happiness | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) The world of Happiness is a bit off-kilter, which creates distance between you and the film. But if you look closer, you might get a glimpse of your own pathetic desires and contradictions. Dec 9, 2021 Full Review Happiness | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault "Happiness" is tough stuff -- quietly confrontational, genuinely haunting, and, most disturbing of all, unexpectedly moving. Rated: A Sep 17, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

The H weird is not necessarily creative Rated 1/5 Stars • Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review jeanieforever I happened to have read this script years before the film was released, and though I loved it, I could not imagine how it could be made. The fact that it was, and so well, is a testament to Todd Solondz' genius. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/05/23 Full Review Tera K This film is uncomfortable to watch at times and I definitely wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but is overall very witty and well done. Todd Solondz is a talented director and had the advantage of a great cast, all of the actors played their characters perfectly. Despite my positive review, I do have to say that I felt some of the disturbing scenes went a bit overboard. The acting was good as I mentioned, but it was almost TOO good and realistic to the point where I felt like I was eavesdropping on something I shouldn't. I feel the film would've been even better had some the scenes been toned down a bit, however of course it's not my decision to make. All that aside though, "Happiness" was uniquely strange in a pleasant way and I enjoyed it a lot! Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/13/23 Full Review Alexis K Ufff dura de ver, no podes creer lo que esta pasando; si las personas somos asi estamos todos locos Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/27/23 Full Review Adam P Ok, so this is probably the darkest comedy I've ever seen. At least in terms of one that was produced with big name players. It's not for the faint of heart, or anyone easily triggered by sexual assault. I didn't love it. It was ok for the most part, but it feels very long, which at just over 2 hours it definitely is. The cast was the best part. Some of the best character actors you'll see, giving great performances. It feels weird, and it is weird, and it was made to be weird. If that sounds appealing to you, maybe you'll like it. I just found it passable personally. 6.75/10 Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/23/23 Full Review Shock Therapy R I liked his next movie, "Life During Wartime". This one seemed contrarian to evoke shock without genuine humor. As a reflective reality, it was parochial and pertaining to a distinct criminal demographic. If it was criminal fantasy, it wasn't well received. Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Happiness

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Cast & Crew

Todd Solondz Director Jane Adams Joy Jordan Dylan Baker Bill Maplewood Lara Flynn Boyle Helen Jordan Ben Gazzara Lenny Jordan Jared Harris Vlad
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Happiness

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Synopsis This dark ensemble-comedy is centered on the three Jordan sisters. Joy (Jane Adams) moves through lackluster jobs with no sense of purpose. Now employed teaching adults, she is dating a student, Russian taxi-driver Vlad (Jared Harris). Helen (Lara Flynn Boyle) is an esteemed poet who becomes amused by her perverted neighbor, Allen (Philip Seymour Hoffman). And eldest sister Trish (Cynthia Stevenson) is married to Bill (Dylan Baker), a psychiatrist with a very disturbing secret life.

Director
Todd Solondz

Producer
Ted Hope, Christine Vachon

Screenwriter
Todd Solondz

Distributor
Good Machine International

Production Co
Good Machine, Killer Films

Genre
Comedy, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 16, 1998, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
May 21, 2017

Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.0M

Runtime
2h 19m

Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Surround
Happiness | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)
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