Popular reviews

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  Review by Paul Elliott ★★★

  H is for Happiness is John Sheedy's directorial debut, and he immediately distinguishes himself as an artist with a keen eye for both colour and simplicity. Based on the award-winning young adult novel My Life as an Alphabet by Barry Jonsberg, it's a generally agreeable and pretty likeable movie. Although there's a great deal of humour, it's not a straight comedy, and a more accurate description would be it's a drama with energising humour. 

  It observes densely freckled-faced, red-haired Candice, a 12-year-old girl who is unflinchingly candid, bright and hilariously forthright. She is also, above all else, brazenly optimistic—and to be honest, in real life, she would most likely come across as utterly intolerable. The role of Candice proves to…

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  Review by Felix Brown ★★½ 1

  H is for Humdrum. 

  Unfortunately keeps up the trend that most MIFF Premiere Fund films are average at best. 

  It’s twee and cute and looks pretty but it’s completely void of anything to make this feel unique or distinct which is unfortunate because so much of this feels like it’s trying hard to be fresh. I also have a few issues with the way this film tackles depression but at least it’s trying. BUT BUT BUT the mum’s ‘happy pills’ come in one of those orange pill bottles but I’ve never seen one in Australia so this film loses all credibility soz. 

  Why do so many Aussie films feel the need to shoehorn in so much family drama and then (spoiler)…

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  Review by Rusty Ryan

  I would like Rich Uncle Brian to buy me a bicycle and give me hugs and also do other things but this is a CHILDREN'S MOVIE and I shall go no further.

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  Review by tilda ★★★★

  if your man doesnt dress as Kenny Rodgers and ride a miniature pony while lip syncing islands in the stream with you, is he really your man??

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  Review by Wallywood ★★★½

  A surprisingly decent Aussie film with great performances from the young leads that outshine some of the veteran Aussie actors.

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  Review by B E R T ★★★★ 2

  Quite possibly the most depressing kids film EVER! Even though it’s a bit of a downer it has its feel-good moments, it ends on a lovely high note. The young actress that plays the lead is extremely charming, she was a joy to watch, as was the young boy who played her friend. It’s a cute little movie, made with good intention. An enjoyable time at the movies, even if it gets a little dark at times.

  Any idea how to get Letterboxd to update the poster for this film? It’s currently just got a still and needs to be updated to have the proper one-sheet.

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  Review by Dan O'Neill ★★½

  It's a cute little movie for the whole family in which a pony takes a shit on the ground at the end.

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  Review by Nick Vass ★★★

  Australia's twee response to Moonrise Kingdom with 12 y.o. vocab guru Candace (Daisy Axon) and inter-dimensional classmate Douglas Benson (Wesley Patten) going on woodland adventures. When their eccentric eye-wandering teacher Miss Bamford (Miriam Margoyles) gives them an assignment about a personal trait—e.g. H is for Happiness, adapted from the book "My Life As An Alphabet", they're tasked to discover the essence about themselves. All of that's depicted in Albany's suburbs in a pastel-coloured fantasy world.

  Though I enjoyed Axon as the precocious overachiever who's bullied for her bookish excitement, and Patten's steadfast attempts to woo her, their own plots actually pale to the subplots. At first, I settled into the groove of their offbeat, articulate whims—often amusing with in-class whispers…

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  Review by Finnian ★★★½ 1

  first i was like "wtf this shit corny" then i was like "wtf i wan call my mum :'( "

  
  Seen at Cinema Nova.

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  Review by Andrew The Curb ★★★★★ 3

  Fourth viewing and still a brilliant film.

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  Review by Karyn Siegmann ★★★★½

  In the beautifully renovated Capital Theatre for MIFF. 
  H is for Happiness is my pick of the festival so far. Candice is 12 years old and eternally optimistic but she is having trouble getting her family on board with being happy following a family tragedy. Helped along by her new friend, Douglas Benson from another dimension, she manages to weave her way through the intricacies of life and win out in the end. With beautiful performances and a great script this delightfully quirky and charming film is a must see to lift your spirits and put a smile on your face.

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  Review by TheMovieWaffler.com ★★★

  God it’s hard to be happy, and I say that as an eternal optimist. What even is happiness? Is it a moment of fleeting joy, or a consistent assurance that everything is ok; a sensation of safety and satisfaction? One cannot be happy all the time, but you’re expected to be, and, perhaps, when other fundamental emotions jostle for space in our heart and mind, like the candy coloured embodiments within Riley, we feel nonplussed when happiness is shoved to one side. Which, in turn, causes added anxiety about our state of mind, pushing happiness yet further and further away.

  Happiness, who’d have it, eh? Who has the energy for it? The peppy Candice (Daisy Axon), 12 year old protagonist…