One might expect that Todd Solondz’s follow-up to the weird and wonderful coming-of-age fable, Welcome To The Dollhouse, might be a more mainstream Hollywood bid. Wrong! Happiness is the anti-family film of the year. Not for the squeamish or easily offended, this movie manages to shock audiences and illuminate the human condition all in the same shot. This is the answer for those of you missing the edge from John Waters’ more recent work. It’s almost as if the grand dame of the perverse handed over his mantle to Solondz. The biggest difference, however, is that Solondz is much less tongue-in-cheek. The thing that will disturb people most is that his work rings undeniably true.
The storylines of Happiness revolve around an extended family and the various misfits that dart in and out of their lives. There are nearly as many connections between characters and coincidences here as an Altman film. Each of these people seem to be searching for something in their life. They all desire the special thing that they believe will make them happy. Unfortunately, some of them actually attain that prize. The chaos and trauma that ensues is often traumatic and darkly comic.
Much has been made of the pedophilic therapist and father, played by Dylan Baker. Baker gives an amazingly brave performance, showing the pain (and more astonishingly) the desires that drive this man. His almost unbearably honest portrayal brings Bill to life and creates the screen’s first sympathetic pedophile. This isn’t to say that the film condones his actions. On the contrary, the movie portrays him as a sick and haunted individual, who pays dearly for his crimes. However, he is shown to be a flawed human being, not a monster.
This brings to mind something that I heard Maya Angelou speak on once: She said that she couldn’t hate any person, be they a thief, rapist or murderer. We are all human and have within us the potential of committing great acts of pain and destruction. And so, I was reminded of her message as I watched this very humane portrayal of a man whose inner demons force him to commit acts that he knows are wrong and horrific.
Bill’s scenes with his 11-year-old son are poignant and tender. His discomfort is palpable as son Billy repeatedly asks him "guy" questions about his delayed puberty. In their final scene together, young actor Rufus Read, displays unbelievable depth as he conveys Billy’s loss of innocence and jealousy over his father’s desires. This is the kind of raw showstopper that should receive Oscar attention but never will.
The always vacuous Lara Flynne Boyle plays Helen, the (surprise) vacuous author and sister of Bill’s delusionally happy wife, Trish (sitcom queen Cynthia Stevenson). Helen wants some real life trauma to enter her hopelessly pristine life so that she can become a more credible writer. Philip Seymour Hoffman of Boogie Nights plays Allen, Helen’s masturbating-prank-phone-call neighbor who wants to take out his sexual frustrations on her. Thinking that their needs could prove to be mutually beneficial, they give it a go only to realize just how unrealistic their desires actually are.
A third neighbor, played with compassion by Emmy Award-winning Camryn Manheim, seems hopelessly smitten with Allen. He consistently turns down her advances, albeit politely. Once he finally sees past her weight to discover her charms, a deliciously dark secret is revealed to snatch away even this last hope of happiness.
Joy is the third sister and the most naïve character in the bunch. Jane Adams manages to infuse her with a simple charm and beauty that makes you want to tell her harpy sisters to leave her alone. Joy is happiest when others aren’t telling her that she SHOULD be unhappy with her meager life. Unfortunately, Joy is easily influenced and quickly becomes dissatisfied with her humble slice of the pie.
As the parents of this highly dysfunctional crew, Ben Gazzara and Louise Lasser prove that years of complacency won’t necessarily banish that little red devil from your shoulder. As patriarch Lenny learns too late, happiness can’t necessarily be found with a clean start either.. In a telling scene, Lenny pours salt all over his food as if to quicken his journey to its inevitable conclusion.
Marla Maples makes a surprisingly effective cameo as a real estate agent that matriarch Mona bonds with. In a clever wink to the audience Marla consoles Mona with, "Divorce was the best thing that ever happened to me." Donald Trump, eat your heart out!
Little Billy’s problems are eventually resolved. Solondz seem to let him "get off" easy, giving the film it’s most delightful moment of sick humor. However, it could be that the poor guy has just experienced his one moment of unfettered Happiness. As illustrated by the foibles of the adults around him, it’s all downhill from here.
Rating: 
1/2
Happiness - Official Site
