Watch Another Happy Day For Free

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I just saw this on TV and wasn't wholeheartedly paying attention during the opening credits, but thought the graphics indicated I would be seeing a Woody Allen film. Nope. Sure it had the humor and depth from some of the earlier and lesser known Allen flicks (Interiors), but this film had the unconscious fluidity and stellar acting that Allen's films of late have been regrettably lacking.The writing and direction by Sam Levinson were nothing short of incredible; I totes want to be his new best friend. The casting was phenomenal, and were I in charge of doling out the awards Barkin would've certainly garnered a best actress, Miller best actor, Burstyn best supporting, and of course Best Original Screenplay to Levinson. The screenplay had more meat on it than the Atkin's diet. It never faltered in relating throughout. Levinson must be extremely self aware and a professional at observation to write such tangible characters in the configuration that he did. A weekend of American family dysfunction was under the microscope and Levinson didn't paint with broad strokes nor did he get lost in the details.I can't say enough positive things about the film and the only thing I would take a few digs at would be a couple of tunes in the soundtrack, but that is so minor compared to this work that will resonate with you if you have sort of been "there".

I am shocked at the number of decent reviews I read on this site. When I saw the cast, and the decent reviews, I decided to watch it. I'm just sorry I wasted 2 hours of my life. There isn't one "real" character in this film. Every role was portrayed as a caricature consisting of overblown and exaggerated behavior. This film is really about a group of narcissists, each more despicable than the other. What a group of disgusting, self-centered excuses for "human beings". "Another Happy Day" made me sick and angry. I only stayed with the film because I was a fan of Ezra Miller after seeing him in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". If you want to see a good film, watch that one.

Sam Levinson's (son of director Barry) 2011 family drama, which he also wrote, is one of those rather frenetic affairs, with the camera eavesdropping on the all-too-often trite and somewhat banal conversations of a probably all-too-typical U.S. family. Events surrounding an imminent wedding open up old wounds as family members, estranged relatives and sick elderly parents all bring to the fore their own dilemmas.I viewed it on Sky Movies Indie and it has 'indie' written all over it, for which, on this occasion, isn't necessarily a good thing.The cast, which combines talented and respected names - such as Ellen Barkin, Demi Moore, Ellen Burstyn and Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) mix with relative unknowns but this doesn't make the mix sweeter or the recipe any richer. The acting veers toward heated melodrama rather than fine and nuanced performances, leading you to find it hard to like or bond with any of them.I don't follow British soaps and whilst I'm not directly comparing this with that, I think an affiliation and enjoyment of everyday family issues would get a lot more from this than I did. The comedy element is often injected oddly, so we are not sure if it's funny, in bad taste or just odd people saying odd things.What will probably put most off, or at least completing the whole disc is its length; almost two hours isn't going to be a huge pile of fun if you're not following/enjoying any movie. The uninspired direction and often suddenly changing scenarios hardly help for a smooth ride, either.So, a movie that's maybe for you but sadly wasn't for me.

An absolutely emotionally drenching film highlighting dysfunction at its worst.By the way, George Kennedy is ailing through most of the film and is practically at death's door. Yet, he is able to go to his grandson's wedding? Come on.Ellen Barkin is the emotionally draining woman whose second husband makes the expression opposites attract most appropriate. Ezra Miller steals the show as the emotionally draining Elliot, her son from her second marriage. Intelligent but beset by problems leading to drug use and smoking, he spends much of the film in verbal outbursts with his mother. Both make excellent use of the four-letter word constantly and it's downright disgusting.Ellen Burstyn is in top form as the matriarch of this brood. She whines and bemoans the fact of what is going on.Thomas Haden Church plays Barkin's first husband who brought up their son Dylan, who is now getting married. His second wife is a memorable Demi Moore who is volatile and has a scene stealing scene with Barkin in the lady's room.This is a film of intense frustration, but yet predictable. Of course, family tragedy at the very end, may very well bring on stability.