Happiness

Released Oct 16, 1998

2 hr. 19 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

83%

48 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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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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The H

weird is not necessarily creative

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 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 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 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 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 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

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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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54%

67%

Storytelling

48%

61%

Human Nature

60%

62%

Living Out Loud

58%

65%

Hurlyburly

0%

67%

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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

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

Exhibits an almost pitch-perfect balance between condescension and compassion.

Rated: B+

Oct 20, 2009

Full Review

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

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

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

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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
Executive Producer: David Linde, James Schamus
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
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Surround