Another Happy Day

2011

Another Happy Day

Critics Consensus

Another Happy Day features outstanding performances (Ellen Barkin's especially) but the characters are too unpleasant to endure.

44%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 34

44%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,264
User image

Another Happy Day Photos

View All Photos (14)

Movie Info

A family weekend is fraught with emotional landmines for mercurial and sensitive Lynn (Barkin) as she arrives at her parents' Annapolis estate for the marriage of her estranged eldest son Dylan (Michael Nardelli), accompanied by her three younger children (Ezra Miller, Kate Bosworth, Daniel Yelsky). Lynn's hopes for a joyful reunion are crushed as her wry but troubled middle son Elliot (Ezra Miller) lobs verbal grenades at his mother and her relatives while daughter Alice (Kate Bosworth), a fights valiantly to keep her longtime demons under control. The weekend quickly unravels as Lynn demands to be heard by her aloof, disdainful mother (Ellen Burstyn), ailing, distant father (George Kennedy) and ever-judgmental sisters (Siobhan Fallon, Diana Scarwid), but most especially by her ex-husband Paul (Thomas Hayden Church) and his hot-tempered second wife Patty (Demi Moore). -- (C) Official Site
  • Rating:
    R (for teen drug/alcohol abuse, pervasive language including sexual references, and brief graphic nudity)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Sam Levinson
  • Written By:
    Sam Levinson
  • In Theaters:
     limited
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $8,464
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Phase 4 Films

Watch it now

Cast

Ellen Barkin
as Lynn
Thomas Haden Church
as Paul
Kate Bosworth
as Alice
Demi Moore
as Patty
Ezra Miller
as Elliot
Ellen Burstyn
as Doris
George Kennedy
as Joe
Michael Nardelli
as Dylan
Daniel Yelsky
as Ben
Jeffrey DeMunn
as Lee
Siobhan Fallon Hogan
as Bonnie
Diana Scarwid
as Donna
Eamon O'Rourke
as Brandon
Lola Kirke
as Charlie
David Hirsch
as Tommy
Gregory Beauchamp
as Ted
Laura Coover
as Heather
Willy Vlasic
as Taylor
Sean Rogers
as Bobby
Patrick F. McDade
as Father O'Grady
Brian Anthony Wilson
as Jason - EMT #1
Christopher Lee Philips
as Dr. Stanwick
Jack Hoffman
as Carpenter Fred
Daniel Usaj
as Young Bartender
April Rogalski
as Bridesmaid
Lila Vivi
as Flower Girl
Jimmie Roach
as D.J.
Corrin Barnett
as D.J. Assistant
Nick McMahon
as Pilot
View All

News & Interviews for Another Happy Day

Critics Consensus: Breaking Dawn Part 1 Doesn’t Shine
View All

Critic Reviews for Another Happy Day

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (19)

  • Levinson piles on the anguish with such abandon he never convinces you that these people would ever speak to each other, much less live under the same roof.

    Dec 9, 2011 | Full Review…

    John Anderson

    Newsday
    Top Critic

  • Combines some of the stock elements of a family film with an extra something - a go-for-the-jugular quality, a kind of Ingmar Bergman-like honesty and viciousness that brings it up a notch.

    Dec 8, 2011 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Mick LaSalle

    San Francisco Chronicle
    Top Critic

  • "Another Happy Day" becomes increasingly difficult to watch, despite its intelligence and strong cast. You wish this family well, but you're grateful to see the last of them.

    Nov 22, 2011 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Moira MacDonald

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic

  • Sam Levinson has proven that he can get a movie made. Good for him. But he still has to prove that he has a story to tell.

    Nov 19, 2011 | Rating: 2/4

    Stephen Whitty

    Newark Star-Ledger
    Top Critic

  • If you liked Rachel Getting Married or Margot at the Wedding, you probably have good taste, so you should avoid this one.

    Nov 18, 2011 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…

    Kyle Smith

    New York Post
    Top Critic

  • Dislikable movie characters don't always result in dislikable movies but that's certainly the case with Sam Levinson's Another Happy Day.

    Nov 18, 2011 | Rating: D+ | Full Review…

    Peter Rainer

    Christian Science Monitor
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (34)

Audience Reviews for Another Happy Day

  • Mar 21, 2013
    Gratingly shrill family drama that fails to ask itself the critical question "Why should anyone care about these annoying people?" Ellen Barkin empties her emotional pockets in a faulty yet gutsy performance that too often topples over the edge.
    Doctor S Super Reviewer
  • Nov 22, 2012
    The only thing worse than having a family like the one in "Another Happy Day" is watching a film about them. Masochists rejoice, as this extremely dry drama about a family getting together for a wedding is almost two hours of pure screaming, crying, and catty relatives. As much as I wanted to enjoy Ellen Barkin and Ellen Burstyn, the overwhelming and dire performances they deliver are unbecoming, not too mention Barkin's collagen-filled face distracts from any real moments she may have. The one performance that rises from the ashes of this film, and makes it somewhat worth the hassle, is Ezra Miller, as the drug-addicted, smart-mouth son, who continuously stirs the pot of emotions, while remaining brilliantly poised and believable amongst a slew of counter-intuitive acting.
    Christopher H Super Reviewer
  • Apr 24, 2012
    Definitely NOT another happy movie. This film is very depressing as it shows years of dysfunctional at it's best. Well-written, and well-acted. Ellen Burstyn was absolutely wonderful, as usual. Ezra Miller stole this movie, though. I was mesmerized by his character. In spite of the done before wedding set-up, all the characters, and their relationships, are complex enough to keep you in the story. Nicely done movie, in my opinion..
    Cynthia S Super Reviewer
  • Jan 31, 2012
    Good sometimes great acting can't make this story of family disfunction completely palatable. These are vicious, cold hearted extremely damaged people who it is a trial to spend any time with.
    jay n Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Another Happy Day Quotes

View All Quotes

News & Features