The Trouble with Bliss Reviews

I seem to be going through a phase of loving every movie I see. It surely can't last!
This is a quirky little film, but I really enjoyed it. Story does go off a little at times, but it's mostly good with excellent cast and likeable or interesting characters.

The dynamic between Bliss (Hall) and his old man (played by Peter Fonda), makes the film worthy of your time. Sadly, the film is all over the place. The main character finds himself in various situations, which is very interesting to watch. Unfortunately, it serves no real purpose to the narrative. It just highlights the absurdity of his life and makes it evident that some change is needed.
Great performances! So-so film!

The Trouble With Bliss is both a funny and touching dramedy that while not the first movie to ever enter the world of the coming-of-age genre, still manages to stand on its own two feet. The story, which is based on Douglas Light's novel, East Fifth Bliss, has largely been met with mixed reviews by critics and audiences alike. More than likely the reason for those mixed reviews is that while the story isn't the first of the coming-of-age genre, it doesn't exactly fit into the standard mold of said style. The concept of an unemployed thirty-something living at home with his father while dating an eighteen-year old is humorous. But what sets the story apart from others in its genre is its ability to balance that quirky standard story with the deeper and more emotional father-son dynamic, which is ultimately at the heart of the entire story. Though, this isn't made entirely clear until the story's end. This perhaps is what led to so many critics and viewers panning this underrated story.

The Trouble With Bliss is an underrated story in that it's one of those works that isn't spoon-fed to viewers. Audiences think they know everything about Morris' blissfully (get the title now?) ignorant lifestyle through most of the movie. But it isn't until the story's end that viewers discover that instead of living in bliss, he has been living in denial all along. That denial is centered in his relationship-or lack thereof-with his father (played by Peter Fonda). He isn't stuck at home with his father. He has made the choice to live there. It can be argued in understanding this and looking back at the story that it is his mother not being there that has led Morris to be living with his father at thirty-five years old and dating an eighteen-year old. Having only had his father for parental guidance through his youth, that was all that Morris ever knew. So it became his comfort zone. Understanding this makes Morris something of an underdog type of figure; a sympathetic character so to speak. He becomes a figure that audiences might not have rooted for had they not had this knowledge. What really makes his an underdog figure in hindsight is why his mother is not in the picture. That reveal in the story's final minutes is perhaps the culmination of everything that audiences experienced leading up to that point.

Some audiences might ask if this is the case, why he started acting as an adult before that moment. The answer is that what happened as a result of his interactions with Stephanie and Andrea was just the catalyst that he had needed to start realizing and growing as a person. His whole life up until that point was ignorant bliss. Finally having been faced with a situation that forced him out of his comfort zone, it acted as a kick in the pants so to speak. That eventually lead to the deepest center of what had led to his first introduction to audiences. The result is that it leads to hindsight among audiences and in turn will lead them to see he's really quite the underdog character. And in understanding all of this one can only hope that those who criticized the movie will take all of this hindsight and give the movie a second chance and see it for the underrated and underappreciated work that it is.

A pretty bad story that went absolutely no where...I didn't expect anything out of this movie but have to watch everything that Dexter does...

This was really weird, but weird can be good or bad. In this case, I'd say kind of middling. Individual scenes were good, but it didn't add up to a whole lot.

The dynamic between Bliss (Hall) and his old man (played by Peter Fonda), makes the film worthy of your time. Sadly, the film is all over the place. The main character finds himself in various situations, which is very interesting to watch. Unfortunately, it serves no real purpose to the narrative. It just highlights the absurdity of his life and makes it evident that some change is needed.
Great performances! So-so film!

It's difficult to like a movie when the lead protagonist is such a loser that you spend the duration of the film hoping he's gonna get hit by a car.

A fun movie. Quirky, bizzare, and always interesting.

Are niste premise, nu merge prea departe cu ele

I feel sorry for Michael C Hall, who could probably always be relied on to give a great performance, and really tries to make his character at least kind of interesting, but the story itself fails this movie to begin with. the antagonist, who's name is something Bliss, who cares, has no likable qualities or traits at all. You kind of have to hate him to begin with and throughout the movie. there is no reason at all to feel connected or sympathetic to this character. the script is full of terrible lines and pointless anecdotes. everything is bad about this movie. it tries really hard and fails at every point, down to costume design and editing. Brie Larson definitely shouldn't get her hopes up for an Oscar.

Feels very real in spite of all the quirkiness. Great cast, ably executed.Touching, amusing. enjoy. Critics be damned.

The trouble with The Trouble With Bliss is that I donâ??t know whether I liked it or not. Itâ??s was amusing, confusing, had some compelling aspects but wasnâ??t written in any depth. Itâ??s one of those movies you donâ??t feel ripped off about seeing but you also donâ??t feel youâ??ve had a great experience. Having said that if you have nothing to do and need to kill some time this low budget epic is worth seeing. Itâ??s well acted and since I was the only one in the theatre I got some texts and e-mails done and had a couple of laughs.

Don't know why the critics get so uptight about laidback slice-of-films likes these. The performances are a joy. One never gets tired of this highly passive protagonist because Michael C. Hall is one of the finest less-is-more actors out there. The rest of the cast is topnotch. And there's a generous sprinkling of endearing as well as laugh out loud moments throughout the film. And before critics begin to think they're the only discerning viewers out there, we're not members of the hoi polloi who get off on Katherine Heigl rom coms. We look for good cinema, and this one is more than good enough. Well worth my time.Weird - critics get to see films for free and they can't stop carping, while we pay to see a film like this and get so much more pleasure out of it. You'd think it would be the other way around.

Brilliant! Watching it again =)

Of course I love this movie. I am a bit biased though.

Really fell in love with the characters in this well acted and directed film adaptation of the excellent book, East Fifth Bliss. Great music too! Bravo!

I give "The Trouble with Bliss" Five Stars. I had the pleasure of attending the NYC premiere last night. I found the story to be thoughtful and funny at the same time. I thought all of the performances were fantastic and that Brie Larson was great. The different eccentricities and personalities that exist in a small neighborhood in NYC rang true to me and made me smile. Enjoyed the film immensely.

Sharp, funny, and poignant, The Trouble with Bliss puts a new spin on the age-old quandary of discovering who you are--and how to live. Michael C. Hall, Brad Henke, Lucy Liu, Peter Fonda and Brie Larson all bring a depth and understanding to the film that resonates and lingers with the viewer long after the show is over.

A great insight to all those crazy characters that walk the streets of new York... Totally enjoyed it.. Go see it..

Funny and subtle. This isn't a film that plays down to its audience. You have to pay attention to what the characters are saying and you'll get all the little nuggets - ie. why is Stephanie attracted to Morris? One top critic said he wondered where Morris got the money to buy a plane ticket from .... ummm, if you missed that I have no words for you (*epic eyeroll*). People were laughing so loud I missed some of the dialogue. Loved it!