Happy Christmas

Name: Happy Christmas
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: July 25, 2014
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 70

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: July 25, 2014 | R

Summary: When Jenny (Anna Kendrick), a hard partying 20-something moves in with Kelly (Melanie Lynskey), a budding novelist, her film director husband (Joe Swanberg) and their two-year-old son after a break up, the family’s idyllic life is shaken. Jenny begins a rocky relationship with their baby sitter-cum-pot dealer (Mark Webber), and she and aWhen Jenny (Anna Kendrick), a hard partying 20-something moves in with Kelly (Melanie Lynskey), a budding novelist, her film director husband (Joe Swanberg) and their two-year-old son after a break up, the family’s idyllic life is shaken. Jenny begins a rocky relationship with their baby sitter-cum-pot dealer (Mark Webber), and she and a friend, Carson (Lena Dunham), bring Kelly to the realization that an evolution in her life, career and relationship is necessary for her happiness.… Expand

Director: Joe Swanberg

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 88 min

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Critic Reviews

Stephen Holden

Jul 31, 2014

More than in any of his previous films, Mr. Swanberg and his cast have refined a seemingly effortless style of semi-improvised storytelling so natural that it barely seems scripted. Life just happens. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Jul 24, 2014

A gently funny ensemble comedy that feels less like a movie than a short story. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Jul 29, 2014

A subtle, witty, wise and deeply compassionate American movie. Read full review

Keith Staskiewicz

Jul 11, 2014

That doesn’t stop the movie as a whole from feeling a little slight, though, like a Christmas tree that isn’t entirely filled out. Read full review

Justin Lowe

Jan 26, 2014

Swanberg's modest script lays out some fairly mundane domestic situations, which the actors elevate with a collaborative style characterized by gentle humor and authentic, frequently overlapping dialogue. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Susan Wloszczyna

Jul 25, 2014

One glance at the static camerawork that plagues the entirety of Happy Christmas and you might also discern that this is a minimalist mumblecore production, a kitchen-sink-style indie genre that apparently outlaws long shots or close-ups. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Jan 28, 2014

Happy Christmas desperately needs some real jokes, rather than settling for the bemused chuckles that accompany its banal observations into human nature. Read full review

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User Reviews

Spangle

Apr 19, 2016

I quite enjoyed Happy Christmas. A nice and enjoyable slice of life film, it is a captivating character study of a self-destructive, immature young man who desperately needs to grow up. Anna Kendrick perfectly emulates this type of person here, while Joe Swanberg and Melanie Lynskey alsoI quite enjoyed Happy Christmas. A nice and enjoyable slice of life film, it is a captivating character study of a self-destructive, immature young man who desperately needs to grow up. Anna Kendrick perfectly emulates this type of person here, while Joe Swanberg and Melanie Lynskey also turn in good performances. The writing and direction here are solid and the film has good pacing with an interesting story to tell. I love slice of life films and this is no exception, though it does feel a touch incomplete. It needed to be longer than 82 minutes, just to give these characters more depth and more time to do things. Unfortunately, that is not the case and I would point to that as the film's main weakness. Otherwise, however, it is an enjoyable dramedy with good acting and compelling characters.… Expand

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Trailesque

Dec 11, 2020

Kitchen sink realism. It reminded me of a Ken Loach film but without the political content. A lively but immature young woman moves in with her indulgent brother and his less than thrilled wife.

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RWHens

Dec 6, 2014

First, let me say that I absolutely love Anna Kendrick as an actress (and performer in general). And in this film, it's a fact that the little two year old boy is simply fantastic. Amazing, really. But that's about all there is good to say about this film. The unredeemable problem withFirst, let me say that I absolutely love Anna Kendrick as an actress (and performer in general). And in this film, it's a fact that the little two year old boy is simply fantastic. Amazing, really. But that's about all there is good to say about this film. The unredeemable problem with Happy Christmas is that the screenplay presents a protagonist who is utterly unlikable, and is paired with a best friend who is equally unlikeable. The storyline is just a train wreck. Depressing? Yes. Interesting or mildly important commentary on humanity? I'm afraid not. I was disappointed tin this screenplay. Perhaps it could have worked as a 15 minute short. I hoped to see Kendrick charm us in this role, and to the extent possible I think she does. The problem is that the character - and film as written - just doesn't charm.… Expand

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Taplinger

Nov 26, 2014

There are bad movies, terrible movies, awful movies, and unbearable movies, unbearable as in you get up and walk out because it's painful. When Jenny gets drunk and starts to heat a frozen pizza, you know just where this is going, you know exactly how depressing it's going to be, and youThere are bad movies, terrible movies, awful movies, and unbearable movies, unbearable as in you get up and walk out because it's painful. When Jenny gets drunk and starts to heat a frozen pizza, you know just where this is going, you know exactly how depressing it's going to be, and you also know there's no point in sitting through it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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