Review of Happy Endings (2005) by Jason D — 18 Jan 2009

Happy Endings is an extremely well-made dramedy about several intersecting lives revolving around each other who all deal with their own unique little tragedy's, and eventually, their happy endings.

There's Lisa Kudrow, whose character has sex with her stepbrother (Steve Coogan in a great role) who's now gay and happily together with another man who's tried helping a lesbian couple (one of which is the downplayed Laura Dern) conceive a baby, whom they may be hiding secrets from.

There's another portion of the story where Kudrow helps a seedy young filmmaker (Jesse Bradford) make a movie involving her massage therapist who gives happy endings (in order to retrieve information about her child she gave up for adoption).

The real highlight of the film is a story about a girl (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who uses her gay drummer (Jason Ritter) to get to his rich dad (Tom Arnold in one of his best roles). Yes, this synopsis sounds very confusing and I'm leaving lots of stuff out, but the film works and manages to be very funny at times.

A true gem in fact. There are little sidebars that clue you in on some things so to not be confused with silly descriptions like I've just given you. Don't listen to me, honestly, just watch this film.

Excellent.