Happiness for Beginners Review: Based on Katherine Center’s popular novel of the same name, Netflix’s latest romantic comedy brings together Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes as leads alongside Shayvawn Webster, Nico Santos, Luke Grimes, Gus Birney, Julia Shiplett, Esteban Benito, Ellie Kemper and Ben Cook. It has been written and directed by Vicky Wight (her second project based on Center’s novels, the previous one being The Lost Husband). The runtime of the movie is around 1 hour 40 minutes.
If you want to reset, why not reset with a cute thing? While Nico Santos’s Hugh tells these words to Ellie Kemper’s Helen (the cute thing being, as usual, love), the movie doesn’t quite manage to pull off the “cute” part, maybe in the traditional sense of the word it does but certainly not in the mature sense which the movie actually addresses. What you get as a result is a cliché rom-com garnished with hiking.
Happiness for Beginners: Plot
Recently divorced Helen decides to go on a hiking trip in the Appalachian Mountains to get over her past and reset her life. On the trek, she meets new quirky people, other than her younger brother’s friend Jake whom she had previously known and whom she finds really annoying (we all know where this is headed).
While the two fail to establish a connection in the beginning, experiences and conversations during the trek, the sexual tension, if I may, remains evident (also mentioned by Hugh to Helen) and finally pays off in the end as we realize that Jake was into Helen from the beginning. Helen did grow feelings for him but was just not ready to give in to the temptations because she wanted to concentrate on herself and apparently find a deeper connection with nature in the process. The movie ends with the two kissing and dancing. (What else did you think?)
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Happiness for Beginners Review
Happiness for Beginners pulls off everything pretty well other than its main plot. I mean, yes, we get a happy ending, but that’s what happens in any rom-com. What makes it special is the chemistry between the lead characters that just didn’t hit the spot in the movie.
While Luke Grimes’s Jake almost literally levitates through the whole movie while staring at Ellie Kemper’s Helen, she appears to be struggling with her dialogue that more often doesn’t fit with her expressions. It’s like someone else is speaking through her. In other words, her acting appears forced. The rest of the cast is more in sync with their characters, which by the way, are nicely characterised, than the leads.
Since hiking plays an important role in the two main characters getting to know each other, the makers have done a commendable job of exploring the hike, what is involved in it, and the Appalachian trails. Perhaps, it is the saving grace (along with the secondary characters) that prevents us from falling out of an otherwise bland story.
As far as symbolism is concerned, it is clear that the survival course that Helen has opted for represents that of her own life. To get over her divorce and get a better view of life, she knows that she needs a break from life itself. There will be cuts and bruises and other obstacles, but if she completes the course, she will emerge as a better person. And this is what happens. The contrast between how she was at the beginning of the movie (in the way she addressed her brother before leaving for the camp) and towards the end (hugging her brother) is an apt way to show how she has changed.
There’s nothing new that Happiness for Beginners offers other than the beautiful foliage of the Appalachian Mountains. And it’s sad because it could have been better. Despite bringing the lovers together, the movie feels incomplete. And this feeling is completely against the very motive of any rom-com, right?
Happiness for Beginners Review: Final Thoughts
The movie is a one-time watch but for the whole experience of a group of people hiking in the mountains. As far as romantic comedy is concerned, comedy (or humour) isn’t paid much heed. This is why the romance, too, falls short of its intended effect. Overall, all I can say is that there are better rom-coms out there, so if you haven’t watched it, you need not unless you like Ellie Kemper.
Happiness for Beginners is now streaming on Netflix.
Have you seen the movie? What are your thoughts on it? Do let us know in the comments below.
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This movie was terrible. The acting of the main characters was sub par at best. The lines were cheesy and nothing really seemed to fit together well. Zero chemistry between Ellie and Luke. It was just really hard to watch and not that it matters but, if everyone except for Big deer ???? voted for Hellen why didn’t she win the certificate? Was this some way of trying to make this ever so predictable movie, unpredictable? For me, this 1 hour and 43 min movie, is exactly 1 hour and 43 mins too long.