Happily (2021) - Rotten Tomatoes

critics consensus

Happily struggles to fully realize its ambitions, but at its best, this intermittently intriguing drama makes pointed -- and frequently funny -- observations about modern relationships. Read critic reviews

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Happily Videos

Happily: Trailer 1

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Happily Photos

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Movie Info

After 14 years of marriage, Tom and Janet still can't keep their hands off each other. When they discover their friends are resentful of their constant public displays of affection, the couple start to question the loyalty of everyone around them. Then, a visit from a mysterious stranger thrusts them into an existential crisis, leading to a dead body, a lot of questions and a very tense vacation.

Rating:

R (Brief Violence|Sexual Content|Language Throughout)
Genre:

comedy, romance
Original Language:

English
Director:

BenDavid Grabinski
Producer:

Jack Black, Spencer Berman, Ross Kohn, Nancy Leopardi
Writer:

BenDavid Grabinski
Release Date (Theaters):

Mar 19, 2021 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Mar 19, 2021
Runtime:

1h 36m
Production Co:

Common Wall Media, Indy Entertainment, Electric Dynamite

Cast & Crew

Joel McHale
Tom

Kerry Bishé
Janet

Stephen Root
Goodman

Paul Scheer
Val

Breckin Meyer
Richard

Natalie Zea
Karen

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News & Interviews for Happily

Indie Fresh List: The Courier, Happily, and Operation Varsity Blues

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Critic Reviews for Happily

All Critics (35) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (10)

Thoroughly enjoyed this very bizarre little movie.

March 22, 2021 | Full Review…

Tim Cogshell
FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)
Happily is filled with sly references to other films and some bitingly funny dialogue, but then we get to that aforementioned fork in the road...the film suffers greatly for taking the latter path.

March 20, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Richard Roeper
Chicago Sun-Times
The second half of Happily isn't nearly as interesting as the first, and once we realize what's actually happening in this house, it's such a contrivance that it takes us out of the story wondering whether it's even possible at all.

March 19, 2021 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Christy Lemire
RogerEbert.com
"Happily" is what happens when a cute conceit goes nowhere intriguing.

March 18, 2021 | Full Review…

Nick Schager
Variety
The movie wants to do too many things, and grows diffuse. This is a not uncommon glitch with first features; one hopes and expects Grabinski will deliver something more focused next time.

March 18, 2021 | Full Review…

Glenn Kenny
New York Times
That few of its narrative mysteries are resolved is obviously meant to be purposefully ambiguous, but the results are finally more frustrating than intriguing.

March 18, 2021 | Full Review…

Frank Scheck
Hollywood Reporter
Happily may not be for everyone, but I liked it an awful lot. Give it a chance.

March 23, 2021 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Norman Wilner
NOW Toronto
Happily is an uneven film, one whose seams show more clearly the closer you examine it - a movie made up of quality parts that never quite fit together properly, though the sum of those parts is still worth experiencing.

March 23, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Allen Adams
The Maine Edge
Seems much more accomplished than a debut film. I really liked it.

March 22, 2021 | Full Review…

Lael Loewenstein
FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)
Happily might have been more effective if it actually was the length of a half-hour Twilight Zone episode, but it is a whole lot of fun even with some flaws that keep it from true brilliance.

March 22, 2021 | Full Review…

Pete Hammond
Deadline Hollywood Daily
Although it stumbles down the stretch, the film probes suspicion and paranoia through a fresh take on modern relationships

March 20, 2021 | Full Review…

Todd Jorgenson
Cinemalogue
The elements that Grabinski was aiming for are there; Romance, Comedy, Unease and Mystery.

March 20, 2021 | Rating: 6 | Full Review…

Norman Gidney
HorrorBuzz