Happy, Happy (2011)
Average Rating: 6.6/10
Reviews Counted: 46
Fresh: 39 | Rotten: 7
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 6.3/10
Critic Reviews: 16
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 4
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 704
My Rating
Movie Info
Family is the most important thing in the world to Kaja. She is an eternal optimist in spite of living with a man who would rather go hunting with the boys and isn't interested in having sex with her anymore because she "isn't particularly attractive." Whatever. That's life. But when "the perfect couple" moves in next door, Kaja struggles to keep her emotions in check. Not only do these successful, beautiful, exciting people sing in a choir, they have also adopted a child - from Ethiopia! These
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Cast
-
Agnes Kittelsen
Kaia -
Joachim Rafaelson
Eirik -
Maibritt Saerens
Elisabeth -
Henrik Rafaelsen
Sigve -
Oskar Hernćs Brandsř
Theodor -
Ram Shihab Ebedy
Noa -
Heine Totland
Choral Director -
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All Critics (47) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (7) | DVD (2)
A thoughtful, nicely played melodrama, bordering on patronising in its depiction of rural folk, but staying on the right side of the line - thanks to sympathetic performances.
Top CriticThe curdled Norwegian comedy-drama "Happy, Happy," which dissects a pair of poisoned marriages, is sometimes heavy-handed (like its title) but has much to recommend it.
Sewitsky aims for quirky humanism along the lines of Finland's Aki Kaurismaki; she's helped along considerably by Kittelsen's sunny performance, though the film crosses over into Scandinavian kitsch with a series of country-swing interludes.
It is short and intense enough that it always seems on track, even if the train goes nowhere.
The trysts and twists are handled with a Coenesque sense of ironic melancholy.
Sewitsky may intend "Happy, Happy" as a Chekhovian chamber piece or romantic bagatelle, but her smugness about racism - and her glib symbolic resolution of the conflicts she raises - suggests an ambition that far outstrips her ability, at least for now.
Good-natured Norwegian culture-clash comedy between city folks and their new small-town neighbours.
Like its heroine, the story never dwells on the heartbreak, delivering plenty of wry smiles and surprises as the four adults are forced to confront all the glaring problems in their marriages.
While highlighting the messier side of human interaction, this Norwegian black comedy blends snappy wit and romantic farce to keep us entertained even when things get rather dark.
The whole is thought-provoking and funny.
Darkly comic and surprisingly touching in equal measure.
Happy, Happy starts out cartoonish and ends up oddly endearing.
I grinned a grin glazed with pure discomfort - which is, of course, the whole idea.
Sweet but never saccharine, Happy Happy is as delicate as Kaja and just as endearing.
Succeeds thanks to winning performances, assured direction and a sharply observed script, though it's slightly let down by a dodgy sub-plot.
With something to relate to in everyone, Happy, Happy is a fun dose of laughter, excitement and spontaneity with added hidden layers that is more than a little infectious.
Like The Kids Are All Right and infinite Woody Allen films before it, Happy Happy is a charming little picture that, despite being over-sentimental at times, is human enough to be considered a valuable gem.
The human follies abound: Running naked in the Norwegian snow, a couple of foolish affairs, a boy who wants to be a modern slave master.
Ironic dramedy about couples finding happiness through self-respect.
Happy, Happy is the catharsis for anyone who's had a romance go south.
"Happy, Happy" has the makings of a Norwegian "Ice Storm," but it goes out with a whimper.
Audience Reviews for Happy, Happy
Super Reviewer
I wonder how all the jokes in the scenes involving kids would go down in The States :O
Super Reviewer
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Foreign Titles
- Happy Happy (Sykt Lykkelig) (DE)
- Happy Happy (UK)
