Happythankyoumoreplease (2010)

Being one of the most talked about films coming out of Sundance earlier this year, "Happythankyoumoreplease" made it's way to the Gen Art film festival and was presented as their opening night feature. Having heard all the buzz surrounding this film and usually enjoying most of the bigger films that come out of Sundance, I was very intrigued to see the film. Did the movie live up to the buzz or was it just overkill, continue reading to read my opinion on the film.

"Happythankyoumoreplease" features a talented and fresh cast of people. The basic premise of the film features the current generation of 20 somethings who live in NY. The story focuses on several characters and their battles with growing up, understanding how the world works, and ultimately what it means to fall in love with the right person for them. This interesting and feel good film was told by Josh Radnor, who not only directed but wrote the film.

The best way to describe "Happythankyoumoreplease" is a mainstream film with an independent budget. While the movie itself didn't really have an independent feel to it, I would say it did have some elements that made it feel "indie" so to speak. The well established actors and actresses in the film, a storyline that was very crowd pleasing, and overall pretty typical characters made it feel mainstream. However, the amount of character development along with some of the characters such as Malin Akerman's character Annie are the elements that gave it a more independent feel.

Like most good independent films, the well written characters and the actors who played them were the highlight of this film. Having never seen a single episode of "How I Met Your Mother" I was totally unaware of who Josh Radnor was and I was totally honest with him about it when I met him later in the evening. What he did with this film was good especially for a first time director and writer plus I give him even more kudos points for starring in the film as well.

The script, which as noted above was written by Radnor, is actually decent especially with mixing independent elements with mainstream elements. Some of the characters were rather typical such as Mississippi played by the talented Kate Mara and Sam #2 played by Tony Hale. These two characters felt like they were directly out of every movie you have seen in the past. Mississippi is the beautiful and talented singer who keeps falling for the wrong guy and then Tony Hale is the dork with the heart of gold. These characters aren't as deep as say Radnor's character Sam or Alkerman's Emma because these characters are just well written characters with a lot of depth. I will also have to point out that little Michael Algieri is a total scene stealer. Guarantee almost every woman who sees this film will fall in love with the kid. He is just adorable and his storyline, although it was not really fleshed out as much as I would like, was fairly interesting. All in all I felt everyone in the film played their roles well I just felt certain characters had more depth and others were too clichéd so to speak.

The overall message the film as I said was a feel good one. You knew where this film was going within the first 10 minutes and you knew exactly what was going to happen. The simplistic storyline was really the main thing that urked me about it. You had so many great lead actors and actresses and I felt the direction it took was just the typical one. I expected some stunners here and there bu

Fmovies: It is one of the most interesting and amusing movies I've ever seen. The script is very very simple, but the execution is brilliant. Josh has shown tremendous potential and talent with his acting,Direction and screenplay. The screenplay is the most interesting part. Really loved the movie. Honestly its one of those movies which i wanted to go on for a few extra minutes at least. I felt really happy and content through out. The soundtrack also is pretty good but most importantly it compliments the movie and makes it look complete. Michael Algieri seem at home with his part. One can connect to it quite easily.Two thumbs-up for it.

"I was a well-fed, middle-class kid who came from good parents; I've got no material." Those words, spoken by Sam the writer, are just one example of how Josh Radnor blurs the lines between writer and character in his debut film, happythankyoumoreplease.

In it, we follow the lives of a few late-20s/early-30s bachelors and bachelorettes in New York City, a place Radnor portrays endearingly. Sam (played by Radnor) is a cynical writer desperately trying to sell one of his short stories. His best friend Anne (Malin Akerman) can't seem to stop dating the wrong guys. His cousin Mary (Zoe Kazan) is pressured by her boyfriend to go to Los Angeles (a city she loathes) and leave New York (the city she calls home). Along the way we meet all sorts of characters, including Rasheen, a "young black child" who, after shuffling through several foster families, has no home.

Sam takes Rasheen in for awhile, at least until he can figure out what to do with him. Anne accuses him of using the boy for material, but it's more complicated than that. Although we've seen the little-kid-sidekick device before, it's so lightheartedly entertaining here that we really don't care. Michael Algieri's debut as Rasheen will steal your heart.

I have yet to mention Mississippi, a bartender/cabaret singer, played by the lovely Kate Mara, who serves as Sam's romantic conflict. They hit it off quickly, possibly too quickly, and we wonder if they've met at the wrong time. Regardless, their interactions are the most cringe-worthy of the film (see: "let's clean each other up" and "you write short stories, I'm ready for the novel").

On the other hand, great music from Jaymay kept me in tune with the film's title. It serves as a narrative soundtrack for happythankyoumoreplease and gives it an indie feel (the film won the Audience Award for Best Drama at Sundance).

Although at times cheesy and clichéd, Radnor's debut tells an epigrammatic story about characters we genuinely care about. Sam's not delivering a profound revelation when he says "every five years I realize what an asshole I was five years ago." Yet the inherent modesty in that statement says a lot about Radnor's work.

Happythankyoumoreplease fmovies. There seems to be a new kind of dramedy-type storytelling, and we liked what we saw in HappyThankYouMorePlease. Write off asking yourself why some of the characters did what they did; if you burden yourself with trying to understand their logic as the stories unfold, you may get too frustrated with one or more characters. Just embrace the film, as the characters will eventually answer the questions you've been asking.

At first I was a little confused with the way the stories were intertwined, but by allowing them to unfold, I truly began to empathize with almost everyone in the film. I understand that it's a "coming-of-age" flick. But the way the characters portrayed themselves and interacted with each other, I grew to enjoy everyone. And don't be gun-shy about another COA flick (even as they are being so played out, it seems).

The difference to me, was how the characters acted towards each other. There seemed to be a decent bit of ad-libbing that helps bring down the guard of a skeptical viewer. There were good friends that seemed like they were long-time friends who happened to get together to make this film. I found myself rooting for each main character. The photography was nice, the writing and acting were special. Direction was very sensitive to people who are complicated in their goals of streamlining their lives. I empathized with them as they had to confront their adversities (or, themselves). The deduction I gave was for feeling a bit confused during the first part of the film. By its end, I was very satisfied.

As someone who enjoys shameless chick flicks and Josh Radnor, but is also a Sundance enthusiast, I really wanted to like this film. The storyline was fine, the music by Jaymay was awesome, the actors are all decent.

That being said, it was totally apparent that Radnor is still an amateur at writing and directing. You know how, in high school, when your friend asked you to read their angsty poetry, and it took all of you not to roll your eyes? That's what watching this movie was kind of like.

There was so much contrived drama that it would have been better suited to a soap opera or comedy. Instead, the actors had to take a superficially dramatic script and try to wring some drama out of it. For instance, the movie starts off with a one-night-stand leaving Radnor's apartment just as he wakes up and realizes he is late for an interview. Conveniently, his best friend leaves a voicemail as he's getting ready, as if she would know he were there listening, perfectly timed to tell him to tuck his shirt in right as he finishes dressing. But it's not a comedy! It's just trying to be clever. He ends up speaking with her on the phone and says something like, "Why did I oversleep? Why am I so afraid of success?" This sounds exactly like what some screen writing student would think that a self-pitying artist would say. The rest of the movie moves conveniently along these lines: things a screen writing student THINKS his characters would say. Unfortunately, film enthusiasts will be unsurprised by every line fed to them from here on out.

Rasheen's character was great and would have made this a promising movie if only his presence in the plot was not based on some ridiculous presence.

I'm curious to see what Radnor will do next, but he'd probably be wise to work on short films and practice the art of delighting the audience in as little time as possible before attempting a longer format again.

What a movie....what a movie..... I must say I'm a big fan of Josh Radnor because of his hit series "How I met your mother" and (who isn't?) I think as a writer he is amazing and he has a long way to go. He has mentioned his love for short stories unknowingly in the TV show many times and I must say his endeavour has never gone unnoticed. Josh Radnor has a real potential. He just brought it together and the rest was obvious. The writing was superb(I'm a writer myself so bro Respect!) and not to forget the brilliant direction done by Josh himself.

A wonderful debut, by the way, as a director for him and all the very best wishes to him for his future ventures. Awesome acting and some great performances by the cast that included Malin Akerman (as usual she is brilliant in this flick too), Kate Mara (I'm beginning to like her already)and Zoe Kazan(with her sweet role which she generally plays quite naturally).

The story was wonderful. Gotta watch it to know it. I'd give it a 7 on 10 and I think the flick deserved it. I'd recommend everyone to go and watch this one because it certainly is worth all the accolades.