Happiness for Beginners

Name: Happiness for Beginners
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: July 21, 2023
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 48
Cast: Aaron Roman Weiner, Alexander Koch, Ben Cook, Ellie Kemper, Esteban Benito

2023

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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3.3	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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Happiness For Beginners

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: July 21, 2023 | Not Rated

Starring: Aaron Roman Weiner, Alexander Koch, Ben Cook, Ellie Kemper, Esteban Benito, Gus Birney, Julia Shiplett, Luke Grimes, Mary Neely, Nico Santos, Shayvawn Webster

Movie Facts:

Streams on Netflix beginning July 27, 2023.

Summary: Helen (Ellie Kemper) has always lived her life as far from the edge as possible. Newly divorced, she joins a quirky group of strangers on a survival course for the “adventure of a lifetime” with the hope of learning how to live — and love — again. [Netflix]

Director: Vicky Wight

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 103 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Mick LaSalle

Jul 27, 2023

Kemper is good throughout. Her radiant likability gives her the power to sell weak material, which means she will often be offered weak material. But there’s enough in Happiness for Beginners to make me glad that she did it. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Nell Minow

Jul 27, 2023

The story's heart is Kemper’s Helen, of course, and this role is a perfect fit. Helen is less sunny than most of Kemper’s roles, allowing her to show more subtlety, depth, and complexity. Read full review

Screen Rant Ferdosa Abdi

Jul 27, 2023

With an amusing ensemble cast, a sturdy script, lovely filmmaking, and the power of its leads' chemistry, Happiness For Beginners is a modest delight. Read full review

Claire Shaffer

Jul 27, 2023

Happiness for Beginners is inoffensive to a fault. Read full review

Catherine Bray

Jul 27, 2023

Well-behaved to a fault, Happiness for Beginners is sweet but a little tentative. Read full review

Lovia Gyarkye

Jul 27, 2023

The woman at its center remains opaque, her romance is listless and her journey to self-discovery becomes an endurance test. Read full review

Laura Babiak

Jul 27, 2023

There are some pretty shots of nature and a few stabs at humor, but don’t be mistaken—this movie is background noise at best. Read full review

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User Reviews

alanpotter17

Jul 29, 2023

Com um clima completamente despretensioso, é uma delícia acompanhar uma mulher ressentida pelo recente término se enveredar numa caminhada com jovens inexperientes escoteiros, no intuito de voltar a encontrar o amor próprio. Assim, embora a premissa seja tão banal, o clima leve eCom um clima completamente despretensioso, é uma delícia acompanhar uma mulher ressentida pelo recente término se enveredar numa caminhada com jovens inexperientes escoteiros, no intuito de voltar a encontrar o amor próprio. Assim, embora a premissa seja tão banal, o clima leve e descontraído somada às locações da natureza (que poderia ser melhor aproveitada) faz da sessão uma gostosa experiência.
É claro que o ar de autoajuda pode enfraquecer um pouco a experiência, bem como a disposição dos corpos numa trilha que em nenhum momento passa a real sensação de perigo.
É um grupo basicamente feito por características tão marcantes quanto superficiais, e mesmo que a protagonista já seja uma mulher formada e adulta, seus dilemas somam-se a uma imaturidade juvenil. Talvez se escalassem um casal mais jovem, funcionasse com mais eficiência. O fato é que tem de tudo, da jovem mística ao gay afeminado, mas tudo de uma forma até orgânica para o projeto, embora uma ou outra situação seja forçada, a história é simpática demais para se deixar aborecer. E simples.
Claro que o desfecho romântico é percebido logo no início, então não dá para esperar do roteiro (muito fraco) algo genuinamente marcante. Contudo, em certos momentos há beleza e reflexão, por mais rasteiros que sejam, e o filme mesmo sabe das suas limitações e entrega um ambiente good vibes que é muito bem vindo.
Sem esperar nada em troca, o filme consegue corresponder às expectativas e é possível terminar a sessão com um terno sorriso no rosto.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TVJerry

Aug 5, 2023

I haven't watched a Hallmark movie in years, but this feels like an escapee from their catalog. Ellie Kemper (best known as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) is struggling to find herself after a divorce. Luke Grimes (the son on Yellowstone) has been carrying a torch for her for years. They end upI haven't watched a Hallmark movie in years, but this feels like an escapee from their catalog. Ellie Kemper (best known as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) is struggling to find herself after a divorce. Luke Grimes (the son on Yellowstone) has been carrying a torch for her for years. They end up on wilderness hike thru the mountains of Connecticut, where they bicker in the obvious ways before they finally kiss. There is absolutely nothing about this plot or the circumstances that's original. Kemper continues with her sweet smile and infectious charm, while Grimes plays it sullen. Their chemistry is OK. There are some supporting characters that add bits of fun, including Nico Santos as the gay camper (literally), Ben Cook as the bossy guide and Gus Birney as the ditzy chick. Despite their minor contributions, the rest of this film lacks any originality and the delayed romance isn't especially rewarding. The generic title doesn't help.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MetacriticOnur

Aug 11, 2023

bad
[ bad ]

adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Jul 28, 2023

Unbearably predictable in the most excruciating manner.
I had to sacrifice 100 minutes of my time with characters that, had they been real people, I wouldn't even want to spend 5 minutes in their company.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MurrayT57

Jul 30, 2023

Incredibly bad acting by Ellie Kemper and horribly embarrassing writing. Possibly the worst movie of the year.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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