All Happy Families

Clever story idea and awesome actors make this a pleasant, enjoyable flick. Photography and directing don't get in the way of the characters. Wish the film ran longer and could have watched more back stories on the characters, i.e. What happens next to the young trannie and how does their family react; does boy star get blacklisted for his sexual assault of his co-star or do new career opportunities arise; does mom get a new job to rescue the family finances while dad continues to gamble away their savings, etc. Pop up a bowl of corn and sit back to enjoy one of this year's best films flying under the radar.

Movie portrayals of family life often leave much to be desired when it comes to authenticity (especially for offerings on the Hallmark Channel). So it's genuinely refreshing when a film comes along that depicts these stories with honesty while being eminently entertaining at the same time. Such is the case with writer-director Haroula Rose's second feature outing about a Chicago family going through a variety of transitions that become ironically (and often hilariously) interconnected, all served up with sparkling wit and an excellent array of one-liners that are definite zingers without being hurtful or nasty. The construction of the narrative and its accompanying screenplay are meticulous and economical, moving along with a steadily sustained pace and never getting bogged down by prolonged sequences that languish or lose their zest, much in the style of director Nicole Holofcener's works. All of this is brought to life by a finely assembled ensemble cast, especially its four principals (Josh Radnor, Rob Huebel, John Ashton and Becky Ann Baker) but also in its palette of intriguing supporting players. What's more, the film does a superb job in its depiction of Chicago's people and neighborhoods, presenting an authentic look and feel of the Windy City, one that residents of the Second City will relish and appreciate. "All Happy Families" is one of those offerings that aren't widely seen (or made) any more, but it's one of the best I've screened in a long time. This charmer deserves a general release and a robust fan base. Let's hope it gets both.

There are a lot of family dynamics in the movie that are common to all of us. It's a little piece of their lives that lasts a weekend, but you feel like you want to spend more time with them. Josh Radnor and the whole cast are brilliant and it is sad to see John Ashton on screen knowing that he would die the next year. Even the small parts like the plumber are very funny.

I didn't know Haroula Rose as a director, but she seems to have created a very collaborative environment on set, and the script, co-written with Caburn Goss, is also well done, showing that "we are all multitudes of things, good and bad, with questionable and great qualities in all of us," as Rose said.