American Movie: Happiness for Beginners (2023)

I didn’t know about this, I don’t think. I love Katherine Center’s books. This one wasn’t a top favorite, but given that her books usually have really nice and touching messages, I still liked it (I honestly don’t remember my initial feels about it since I didn’t write a review =_=)…

But in short. This movie was so slow and boring. Things didn’t happen exactly the way they happened in the book, which is fine. (Like I remembered parts as I was watching it.) Obviously, movie adaptations don’t need to follow the original books to a T… But I don’t even think that was the worst thing. The worst thing is that I felt nothing. No chemistry between the leads, no sympathy or empathy for any of the characters. Like. Why.

I can’t remember how old the characters were supposed to be in the book, but I didn’t really feel anything about the characters in the movie (not that characters in a romcom have to LOOK a certain way.. But I think honestly there was that mismatch. Like the main lead guy’s hair is like what. I didn’t feel any tension build up or chemistry between the leads, like there was no opportunity for there ever to be because no roadtrip happened to the hike.. Cool that they gave screentime to these side characters, but I feel like Hugh and Helen had more (friendship) chemistry than Jake and anyone. I don’t think the relationship with the brother seemed accurate either.. But I don’t super remember.

I kept watching not because it was intriguing but because I wanted to see how they build the relationship and like I DON’T FEEL LIKE THEY DID AT ALL WHY. I was soo disappointed by this.

Did I cry? No
Should you watch it? Also no.