Written and Directed by Todd Solondz
Cinematography by Maryse Alberti

Jane Adams as Joy Jordan Jon Lovitz as Andy Kornbluth Philip Seymour Hoffman as Allen Dylan Baker as Bill Maplewood Lara Flynn Boyle as Helen Jordan Justin Elvin as Timmy Maplewood Cynthia Stevenson as Trish Maplewood Lila Glantzman-Leib as Chloe Maplewood Gerry Becker as Psychiatrist Rufus Read as Billy Maplewood Louise Lasser as Mona Jordan Ben Gazzara as Lenny Jordan

Running Time: 134 min.
Release Date: Oct. '98

Overall Call:
This one is far from your normal fun loving Hollywood story. The ironically titled Happiness is filled with extremely dark humor and a rather disturbing display of peoples morals and inner workings. The film contains many frank and explicit sexual scenarios. The cast is superb across the board. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jane Adams impressed me in particular with rather intense and subtly nuanced performances. If the story is up your dark ally you may want to investigate Todd Solondz other films as well (Welcome to the Dollhouse and the soon to be released Storytelling), they tend to be consistent in theme.

Reasons For Recommendation:
+ Off center well told demented story
+ Outstanding performances