H Is for Happiness

This delightful quirky comedy can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Daisy Axon plays Candice Phee, a cheery, red-headed, dictionary-reading, bicycle-riding swot, who wants to restore the happiness of her mum (Emma Booth), who can't get over the cot-death of Candice's baby brother, and dad (Richard Roxburgh), who is still angry over business bust-up with his brother, 'Rich Uncle Brian' (Joel Jackson). Full of other interesting side characters (her friend, 'Douglas Benson from another dimension' (Wesley Patten), her eccentric teacher with one rolling eye (Miriam Margolyes of course) and Douglas' full-on mum (Deborah Mailman)) and animals; well-written and acted; and set in a beautiful sun-drenched coastal town, this film will delight the open-hearted. It also made me want to travel to Albany to see if it is really is so lovely.

This is a hypothetical kind of feature film. The story is not too great but has very interesting and funny character that carry to entire story along. There is a cultural mix which is shown in the classroom sequences, a kid with the orange turban is shown as Punjabi but he is not wearing it properly. Major mistake on that. The idea and the concept is great. A small girl tried to fix the family issues and her story amidst all these situations is really a delight to watch but as some point it looked like an exaggerated version. Anyways, can watch for a change of mood.

Candice Phee is an outspoken 13 year old who gets ridiculed by the rest of the class especially mean girl Jen Marshall. Despite her aggressive happiness, her home life is dysfunctional. Her mother is depressed after the death of Candice's baby sister three years earlier. Her father is angry at his rich brother whom he believes to have stolen his great idea. New kid Douglas Benson believes that he's from another dimension and falls for Candice right away. Their wonky-eyed teacher assigns the class project Life as an Alphabet.

This is cute. I don't recognize any of the actors although Emma Booth seems familiar. The kids are newcomers. Daisy Axon has the eagerness even if she's unpolished. The acting is generally fine with good sincerity. The story is a little over-stuffed. It seems every character has a story in this movie. This is cute, sweet, and sincere. The filmmaking is good. With so many things going on, the emotional arc gets a bit muddled but the sweetness is never far away. That has a lot to do with little Daisy.

This movie CHANGED MY LIFE. wow. the twists and turns were so unexpectedly amazing and smart. candace played an important roll of a moody but amazing girl changing through her life in middle school. and don't even get me started on DOUGLAS BENSON FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION. 100% my absolute FAVOURITE character. i was sitting in the movie cinema with no thought of what was to come from this movie. but every little detail brightened up my day. not ever did i think i would get out of bed to see "H is for happiness." i think the plot was amazing. although some parts were a tad weird it really did brighten up the movie for me. thank you so much for creating this tremendously beautiful movie it changed me in so many ways for what's to come in the future.

All too often we watch movies and come out feeling heavy, angsty and drained. This is movie that is the polar opposite - it replenishes, uplifts and puts a smile on your face - and a little warmth in your heart.

It blends: fantasy, quirkiness, wonderfully saturated cinematography and an evocative score that transports you away from your reality - whilst grounding you gently in the reality that is life.

Favourite scene has to be the final on-stage performance. It was a master-stroke and left me laughing and crying.