Review of Happy Endings (2005) by Hugo S — 15 Mar 2008

HAPPY ENDINGS (2005).

Directed by Don Roos.

Starring Lisa Kudrow, Steve Coogan, Maggie GyllenhaalVarious characters intersect over a long period of time in Los Angeles. A woman (Lisa Kudrow) who gave up her child for adoption as a teen is dating a mexican guy (Bobby Cannavale) on whom a young man (Jesse bradford) is doing a documentary and when the project is over he'll tell her where her child is now. Lisa Kudrow's character's step-brother (Steve Coogan) - also the child's father - is gay and his boyfriend donated sperm to his best friend (Laura Dern) - a lesbian - and they fight over who the real dad of her kid is. While, at Steve Coogan's character's restaurant, there is a young man (Jason Ritter) with a band - he is gay too - and he meets a girl (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and she falls for his father (Tom Arnold). Yeah, it quite simple I know.Happy Endings start out trying to be a bit too quirky but then things get fixed and go on the right way but its still doesnt get that interesting. None of the plot line are entertaining but they arent boring either, just alright. All the way through the film, the screen split and gives us informations on the characters which arent always useful but sometimes funny.Happy Endings is neither a real comedy or a drama cause we never really laugh, only smile and its not particularly moving. Its plays out alright and it feels a bit too long. The ending is over twenty-minute long.The best thing about this film is the cast, all giving fairly good performances, my favorite being Tom Arnold in an honest role and Lisa Kudrow showing that she is much talented. Bobby Cannavale is interesting as well. Not a bad movie but nothing memorable about it either.