| Another Happy Day | |
| Director: | Sam Levinson |
| Music: | Ólafur Arnalds |
| Cinematography: | Ivan Strasburg |
| Editing: | Ray Hubley |
| Distributor: | Phase 4 Films |
| Runtime: | 119 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Gross: | $659,937[1] |
Another Happy Day is a 2011 American drama film written and directed by Sam Levinson, in his feature directorial debut. The film stars an ensemble cast including Ellen Barkin, Kate Bosworth, Ellen Burstyn, Thomas Haden Church, Jeffrey DeMunn, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, George Kennedy, Ezra Miller, Demi Moore, Diana Scarwid and Daniel Yelsky.
It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2011. It was released on November 18, 2011, by Phase 4 Films.
When Lynn attempts to reunite with her estranged son at his wedding, it only serves to expose painful truths and family secrets.
Another Happy Day was screened at the 27th Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2011.[2] [3] The film also screened at South by Southwest on March 18, 2011; at the Woodstock Film Festival on September 23; at the Mill Valley Film Festival on October 12; and was given a limited release on November 18.
Another Happy Day holds 47% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 34 reviews, with an average of . The site's critical consensus reads: "Another Happy Day features outstanding performances (Ellen Barkin's especially) but the characters are too unpleasant to endure."[4] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 46 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Barkin received critical acclaim for her performance, with Gabe Toro of IndieWire writing that it was one of the best female performances of the year.[5] Chris Bumbray of JoBlo wrote: "A searing look at the modern family dynamic, and the way love and hate can be inter-changeable at times. Ellen Barkin is Oscar worthy".[6]
John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review, writing: "Laugh-laced dark drama of family angst overcomes the hurdle of its wedding-weekend setting."[7] Leah Rozen of TheWrap also gave the film a positive review, writing: "Altmanesque in its sprawl and sympathetic attitude toward even its most flawed characters, Happy Day marks a mostly promising debut for director-writer Sam Levinson."[8]
Stephen Holden of The New York Times gave the film a negative review writing: "Both anguished and histrionic and in its strongest moments very, very good. But it is also overpopulated, strident and constitutionally unable to step back and scrutinize itself."[9] Moira McDonald of The Seattle Times also gave the film a negative review writing: "Another Happy Day becomes increasingly difficult to watch, despite its intelligence and strong cast. You wish this family well, but you're grateful to see the last of them."[10]