critics consensus

Despite glossing over some of the darker events in the subject's life, Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story is an engaging look at a groundbreaking show. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

Filmmakers Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood explore the rise and fall of the groundbreaking animated series "Ren and Stimpy" and its controversial creator, John Kricfalusi.

Genre:

documentary
Original Language:

English
Director:

Ron Cicero, Kimo Easterwood
Producer:

Ron Cicero
Release Date (Streaming):

Aug 14, 2020
Runtime:

1h 44m
Production Co:

Ladies & Gentlemen, Inc

Cast & Crew

John Kricfalusi
Self

Ron Cicero
Director

Kimo Easterwood
Director

Ron Cicero
Producer

Jason Anders
Executive Producer

Ron Cicero
Executive Producer

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story

All Critics (29) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (5)

Recounts the meteoric rise and fall of the beloved kids' show, which wasn't really for kids, and whose highs and lows were all the byproduct of its creator.

February 2, 2021 | Full Review…

Nick Schager
The Daily Beast
The film is actually perhaps most interesting-and most valuable to the initiated-as a piece of criticism-by-creator.

August 24, 2020 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

A.A. Dowd
AV Club
The clues, tidily packaged, explain away Kricfalusi's pathology. "Happy Happy Joy Joy" is a cautionary tale not a hagiography

August 13, 2020 | Full Review…

Gary M. Kramer
Salon.com
Easterwood's documentary is a very entertaining recap that grows more disturbing as it wades into the dysfunctional behavior that doomed the show, and still somewhat taints its legacy.

February 4, 2020 | Full Review…

Dennis Harvey
Variety
A story of immense creativity destroyed by the ego of one man.

January 29, 2020 | Full Review…

Brian Tallerico
RogerEbert.com
Happy Happy Joy Joy - The Ren & Stimpy Story is engrossing and gutsy, and tactfully executed, but could be more combative.

January 26, 2020 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Robert Daniels
812filmreviews
Fascinating and disturbing... If nothing else, Happy Happy Joy Joy will mean you'll never look at Ren & Stimpy the same way again.

February 16, 2021 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
Whether you're a fan of Ren and Stimpy or not, this is a truly fascinating watch, and Happy Happy Joy Joy is an offering that has far more gut punches than a casual viewer may be expecting.

February 1, 2021 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Andrew Pollard
Starburst
Ren & Stimpy's gestalt-a kind of tender boldness of form, something "churning like lava inside you," as Kricfalusi puts it-was endearing and magnetic.

January 9, 2021 | Full Review…

A.S. Hamrah
The Baffler
Happy Happy is fun, fast-paced, and has plenty of animation clips to satisfy fans. But it's also a scarifying portrait of an empathy-free artistic ego run amuck.

December 23, 2020 | Full Review…

Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
Despite the lack of tighter focus or perspective, it's a worthwhile tribute especially for fans.

December 15, 2020 | Full Review…

Todd Jorgenson
Cinemalogue
"Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story" is a tale of two documentaries. The one focused on just the making of the show is entertaining, thorough, and a real winner.

September 14, 2020 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Joey Magidson
Awards Radar