HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE
Directed by Josh Radnor
Produced by Benji Kohn, Chris Papavasiliou, Austin Stark & Jesse Hara
Released by Anchor Bay Films
USA. 98 min. Rated R
With Josh Radnor, Malin Akerman, Kate Mara, Zoe Kazan, Pablo Schreiber, Tony Hale, Richard Jenkins & Michael Algieri
 

Three couples connected loosely through their hip Manhattan lifestyles each encounter a moment of crisis while navigating the hills and valleys of the modern dating scene. Sam and Mississippi (writer/director Josh Radnor and Kate Mara, respectively) meet in a nearby bar and begin a back-and-forth fling, made complicated by Sam’s spontaneous (and unsanctioned by the state) adoption of Rasheen, a 10-year-old boy he finds abandoned on the subway and then discovers has an incredible gift for drawing. Sam No. 2 (Tony Hale), so called by Sam’s best friend, Annie (Malin Akerman), may not be the best looking guy in her office, but he pursues her nonetheless, while Mary Catharine and Charlie (Zoe Kazan and Pablo Schreiber) hit the point of no return in their longstanding relationship.

As the title may suggest, Radnor keeps things light here. It’s a fluffy romantic comedy with a positive overall message that love is everywhere, we just have to know where to look. Please don’t blame me for all the taglines, there’s something about this one that keeps them flowing. The editing and visual style are well paced, and the tasteful soundtrack includes indie stars Throw Me the Statue (my favsies), War on Drugs, Dr. Dog, and even a closing number performed by Kate Mara that ties all of the stories together in a final montage. The in-crowd cast is a great mix of multiplex faces and indie mainstays and even includes go-to character-actor Richard Jenkins playing, you guessed it, a minor character. This film couldn’t be better cast.

I don’t take issue with the style here, and I can get on board with the message, but the kid is too obvious a plot device, and Sam should have sorted out the legal dilemma much sooner. I’m frustrated to wonder why, if he’s so captivated with Rasheen’s artistic ability, it takes him at least 24 hours to finally buy some colored pencils. Maybe he’s supposed to be an irresponsible writer, but that should be one of the things he can actually handle. Mississippi is totally scripted. I suppose I buy that she falls for Sam so easily, as Radnor is loveable ad nauseam, but my question then is, why walk away so quickly only to be won back immediately by his charms? I see her as a person who makes more responsible decisions than that, and this plot begs for a less stable chick in this character.

Sam No. 2 and Annie, on the other hand, keep this film on point. Their struggle is a common one, sure. Pretty girl can’t find love with the pretty boys so she broadens her search to find beauty on the inside in a man who truly loves her. This one has a tiny twist—she has alopecia and can’t grow hair—and it makes it all the more special. They both treat her condition in such a mature way, conscious of its effect but not afraid of it, and storywise, it’s no gimmick. I love every charming and genuine word out of Hale’s mouth, and not only is Akerman wonderful as Annie, she has nearly all of the best lines of Happythankyoumoreplease’s inconsistent dialogue. I was moved several times.

Mary Catharine and Charlie are the unfortunate victims of the weakest storyline. They are clearly in love with each other, but he wants to move to Los Angeles, and she wants to stay in New York. Apart from moping around about it, not a whole lot more happens. Why a director would ever allow someone as talented as Zoe Kazan to utter to her boyfriend “It’s like you’re out of focus all of a sudden” is beyond me. I’m sitting here begging for more from Akerman and Hale and wondering what the hell’s happening with Radnor and his new genius foster child. Perhaps this third story, well …shouldn’t have made it into the film?

I’m being unfair because the overall structure is fine, and the ensemble works very well together. One of the final scenes features Sam and Charlie coincidentally meeting on a busy street and sitting down for a beer, and we get a real sense of this community of friends. I just wish a few of them had something more interesting to do. Michael Lee
March 4, 2011