Welcome to Happiness

I can respect a low budget film, but this doesn't feel like that. It just feels lazy. Can't hear what the actors say during many parts of the movie. Some because the "background music" is just too loud, other times it was just recorded way too low. Bad, just bad. I did like the story line but will NEVER watch this again because of how badly it was created. You WILL have to change the volume many, many, many, many times during this show. In fact, just avoid the movie.

The quirky light hearted style of this film was enjoyable but then... Wiccan symbols kept popping up in a lot of the scenes. The sad reality is that this film is written from the white magic world view and never addresses evil. It only makes the case that it has to be this way so that others can experience good. This being a tenant of eastern philosophy, new ageism, and those who practice white magic. If you watch with a discerning eye you will see the witches and the warlocks played out. This whole film is about Woodys initiation into the group. But then....

I put off watching this for quite some time because it looked interesting but weird. Now that I've watched it, it's interesting but weird. It's a web of life story that, at its core is similar to Crash, yet nothing like that movie. I loved the artwork. The apartment where the majority of the movie takes place is amazing. I'd love to live there! It makes the movie more visually interesting since, as I've said, most of it takes place in that space. You get the impression that Woody, the protagonist, is tied to the place by his obligations. Anyway, the story is heartwarming. For me, it was a slow start, got good around the middle, and was a bit anticlimactic in the end. But, it holds a good message and that's what makes it touching.

I was quite surprised by this film as I wasn't expecting much. I was intrigued from the first scene and found myself anticipating the path we were traveling. I thought the film was very well written, the direction was great as were the cast. Parts of the story were muddied occasionally, but overall it was a very fun movie with interesting, thought provoking scenes and dialogue. I'd definitely recommend it.

So many of life's lessons can be attributed to children's literature. Authors from Dr. Seuss to Shel Silverstein shaped the way young minds perceived the world and prepared them for what lie ahead. Welcome To Happiness, the debut film from writer/director Oliver Thompson, spins a fanatical tale in a similar vein. Aimed at the grown-ups we've ripened into, this clever comedy draws upon the "whys" we inevitably ask ourselves as we press on through to adulthood.

Dropping the viewer directly into the world he built, Thomson keeps a close rein on the goings on and rules set forth by his script, only answering so much before adding on more mysteries. The opening scene sets the tone of the film, quirky and playful yet not lacking real raw emotion...