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The Happy Poet

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The Happy Poet

Released Mar 22, 2013

1h 25m

Comedy

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

A struggling poet (Paul Gordon) starts a vegetarian food stand.

Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

[Paul Gordon generates] good-natured humor through earthy characterization and precise observation of what it's like to run a small business. (His editing, which often approximates the rhythm of workaday drudgery, is clever without being cutesy.)

Jul 26, 2013

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Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

It's hardly slick, but that's the selling point. The Happy Poet approaches the ups and downs of friendship, love, work and life with a disposition that is both sardonic and sunny.

Jun 27, 2013

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Jesse Cataldo

Slant Magazine

A diffident, occasionally sly comedy that could have benefitted from a little more energy and range.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 26, 2010

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Prairie Miller

WBAI Radio

A cutting edge social satire about vegetarian pushcart power. And how work, or the lack of it, informs our lives. Along with the struggle to survive in hard times, while serving up poetic revenge subversion of the Hollywood happy ending with relish.

Jan 29, 2014

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Mark R. Leeper

Mark Leeper's Reviews

THE HAPPY POET tells a story that could use a little more meat.

Rated: 5/10

Jun 28, 2013

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

A laid-back green entrepreneur capitalizes on patience and perseverance in his quest to operate a successful organic food cart.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 6, 2013

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Audience Member

It's just smart enough to fully enjoy. It's a sweet movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

A unique and quirkily entertaining film. The problem is that Paul Gordon brings this realistic story to a totally unrealistically contrite "wrap-up" ending. The last ten minutes of this film almost ruin it. But, this is a film well worth watching. All of the performances are top notch -- particularly Johnny Mars' portrayal of the gentle-hearted stoner boy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

Happy Poet seems to stretch in some scenes but if you stick with it, it's a refreshing life achievement film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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brent t

On a positive note, the poem "Chasm" was worth rewinding to hear a a half dozen times or so. Otherwise, a pointless, crappy movie with boring actors playing bored (and boring) roles. Cannot fathom the intelligently dearth vacuum of the minds of those rating this film in the 70% range. Huh?

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

You have to watch to the very end. Best line ever. Free on Hulu.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

Loved it. Says a lot about running a small business. And life.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

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Paul Gordon

Director

Paul Gordon

Bill

Jonny Mars

Donny

Chris Doubek

Curtis

Liz Fisher

Agnes

Ricardo Lerma

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Synopsis

A struggling poet (Paul Gordon) starts a vegetarian food stand.

Director: Paul Gordon
Producer: Paul Gordon, David Hartstein
Screenwriter: Paul Gordon
Distributor: Cinema Libre Studio
Production Co: St. Chris Film
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 22, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 26, 2014
Runtime: 1h 25m

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