Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- awkward
- sardonic
- independent film night
- adult movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the ensemble performances and Don Roos’s timing appealing, while considering the interconnected stories contrived and emotionally uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mamie, Charley, Otis, and their friends are connected across three linearly presented but parallel stories.
Nicky uses proof of Mamie’s son’s identity to pursue an AFI documentary about her life without her consent.
Mamie hides her past, Charley navigates his homosexuality and suspicion about Max, and Otis fears his father’s disapproval.
The film’s reception repeatedly emphasizes the performances of Lisa Kudrow, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Bobby Cannavale, and the ensemble.
Films like Happy Endings, and why
The Opposite of Sex
interconnected angeleno lives, darkly comic relationship drama, and sexual candor
Short Cuts
ensemble structure, intersecting relationships, abrasive humor, and emotional dysfunction
The Kids Are All Right
lgbtq+ relationship drama, black comedy, and complicated family secrets
Trust the Man
interwoven romantic crises, morally messy characters, and bittersweet comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Don Roos
- Release Date
- 2005-01-20
- Runtime
- 128 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (121)
Cast
- Lisa Kudrow
- Steve Coogan
- Jesse Bradford
- Bobby Cannavale
- Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Jason Ritter
- Tom Arnold
- David Sutcliffe
- Sarah Clarke
- Laura Dern
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Happy Endings about?
- Three tangled Los Angeles communities confront buried parentage, sexual identity, artistic exploitation, and the messy possibility of emotional closure.
- What is Happy Endings like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Happy Endings as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Happy Endings violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Happy Endings.
- What did critics think of Happy Endings?
- Critics broadly found the ensemble performances and Don Roos’s timing appealing, while considering the interconnected stories contrived and emotionally uneven.
- Which films are like Happy Endings?
- Films with a similar feel include The Opposite of Sex, Short Cuts, The Kids Are All Right, and Trust the Man.
- How long is Happy Endings?
- Happy Endings runs 128 minutes.
- Where can I watch Happy Endings?
- In United States, Happy Endings streams on Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel.
