Are You Happy Now? movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Are You Happy Now?

This self-proclaimed “anti-romantic” comedy is now available on digital platforms.

RATING:   R

LENGTH:  1 hour 35 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:
Congratulations to first-time director David Beinstein. He also wrote the movie.

ARE YOU HAPPY NOW is the story of Adam, who can’t live without Gina, so when he finally gets the nerve up to ask her to marry, he’s devastated by her principled refusal. “Husbands used to own their wives!” she retorts, having no interest in recreating her parents’ tortured home. Gina finally agrees to marry, but Adam’s hardly up to the task.

If you’re into quirky characters, you might get a kick out of this flick.

THINGS I LIKED:

• I had never seen Josh Ruben act in anything before, but I did see the movie he directed called Werewolves Within, which I thought was super entertaining.  He also serves as producer of the movie.  I’m a fan.
• Lots of quirky, entertaining characters. It made me think of some of the oddballs in Napoleon Dynamite  Some people think that movie is hilarious because of its quirkiness. Others think it’s just too weird and pointless.  This movie struck me as similar in that regard.  I don’t think it’ll ever reach the same fandom, but there is something charming about its quirkiness and innocence.
• The talented cast includes Ismenia Mendes, David Ebert, Gregory Jones, Catherine Curtin, and Blake DeLong.
• The scene with the Fred Astaire movie clips was insightful.
• The chicken metaphor was clever as it related to the personalities of the two main guys.
• I like how the individual stories and characters intersected.
• Keep watching during the closing credits for a bunch of additional scenes.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
•  The film meanders and wanders.

• Josh Ruben’s character is endearing but also seems to be somewhere on “the spectrum”.  Gina is quirky, but Adam seems to have learning disabilities of some kind. His mouth is always open with a dopey expression on his face, making him appear to be an unequal intellectual match for Gina.
• Cute, but an abrupt ending.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:
• Portrayal of suicide
• Profanity and tons of F-bombs
• An unmarried couple sleeps together
• You see a hairy, shirtless guy. Later, you see him in just his underwear.
• Talk & portrayal of acupuncture

• THEMES:
  • Marriage
  • Love
  • Relationships
  • Brothers
• Fear
• Friendship
• Accepting people for who they are

• FUNNY LINES:
* “If it’s okay with you, bro, it’s okay to feel humiliated. But we’re ready to order though.” – guy in the restaurant

•

INTERESTING LINES:
• “Husbands use to own their wives!” –  Gina  (Ismenia Mendes)
• “Matrimony is a lie. It’s the worst Ponzi scheme ever.” –  Gina  (Ismenia Mendes)
• “Sometimes, love means compromise.” –  Gina  (Ismenia Mendes)

• “Sometimes, you just gotta be alone to see yourself.” –  Linda  (Nozipho Mclean)
• “I’m glad I didn’t die but I’m not happy being alive.” – Adam  (Josh Ruben)
• “Just let life unfold.” – Gina  (Ismenia Mendes)

Movie Review Mom GRADE:  C+

OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

WATCH THE Movie Review Mom YOUTUBE REVIEW WITH THIS LINK:

   @TrinaBoice   @MovieReviewMom

Thank you so much for your financial support on Patreon!
Be sure to check out all of the gifts you can receive when you donate to Movie Review Mom on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/m/MovieReviewMom