Happily
SABANHappily is about a couple who is very much in love. Tom (Joel McHale) and Janet (Kerry Bishé) have enjoyed 14 years of marital bliss, and they do not care what others think. They still go out to parties, socialise with friends and, deep inside, their marital bond is strong as ever. Through their relationship, the film explores how this deep and abiding connection between Tom and Janet is strongly associated with their highly satisfying romantic life. Both characters are very much despised by their friends – a sort of jealously that infuriates and makes them question their own unhappy, dull lives. It is simply not acceptable for others to see this flawless marriage carry on.
Things take a sinister turn when Tom and Janet are visited by a mysterious FBI agent who claims to have found a ‘cure’ for their marriage. He tells them that their overly romanticised life is not considered normal in society and that they must take steps in order to ensure that they become like everyone else. This outlandish confrontation with a total stranger takes the couple by surprise, and it is not long before things end up in murder. In the midst of a freakish problem to deal with, the couple gets invited to a weekend getaway party at a private mansion by their friends. Acting perfectly normal, they decide to go despite having a lot of stress on their shoulders. It is at this party, along with three other couples that things start to get even weirder. As the night goes on and the couple gathers their wits, a disturbing thought arises in their minds. The whole FBI agent situation could have been an elaborate prank pulled off by one of their friends, and now the man is dead because of them. Who is behind all of this, they wonder?
Writer-director BenDavid Grabinski’s stylish, dark-comedic thriller is a downright beguiling film about a happy couple whose relationship is tested after a freakish incident. It's campy, entertaining, and an absolute blast. The film's storyline is very bizarre with a lot of twists along the way, and its tone takes this approach seriously with an excellent balance of humour that's executed smoothly. The lead performances by Joel McHale and Kerry Bishé are fantastic. Not only do they manage to capture the feeling of being helplessly in love but also how far one can go to ease their circumstances. The casting of supporting actors, such as Natalie Morales, Shannon Woodward, Paul Scheer, Breckin Meyer, Natalie Zea, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, John Daly and Charlyne Yi adds to the chaotic nature of the film because it throws the movie off the balance in a very effective way. They all deliver equally remarkable performances that keep you hooked throughout.
Happily is a riveting film. It not only explores the unexpected wedge between a carefree couple, but also how they deal with it and with those around them. It may feel a bit goofy at times, but Grabinski knows how to make a mark, especially in his writing, as he makes the bold decision to erase one of the vacation thriller subgenre’s tropes, creating a film that, while containing a fairly simple premise, feels new.