Happy Tears
During the last few years Demi Moore, a popular actress during the 80s and 90s, has been trying to re-build her status in films such as Charlie’s Angels and Flawless. Parker Posey also has, with more success, recently from Broken English and The Eye. Together, these two actresses try to reach a new group of viewers by starring in the drama Happy Tears, with unfortunately the wrong script and choice of characters. As a result, they should each stick to the type of films that suit them best, which shows that sometimes you should not go in a new direction in case you lose your audience.
Written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein, the film starts with Laura (Demi Moore), who permanently takes care of her aging father (Rip Torn) in the countryside, calling her neurotic high-society sister Jayne (Parker Posey) in New York to assist her as his condition worsens. The two sisters are a million miles apart in both personalities and lifestyles, and it is immediately noticeable when Jayne arrives dressed in a smart suit and high heels, compared to Laura wearing practical clothes. The sisters argue over the seriousness of their father’s health, while ignoring childhood memories. When Shelly (Ellen Barkin) suddenly arrives as Joe’s girlfriend, the sisters struggle to balance his situation with their own individual strained lives.
Although this was a small, independent film, I was prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt, and be open-minded regarding the plot and style. I was wrong. Happy Tears is neither a cheerful comedy nor a strong drama, and within a short period of watching it I knew that I either had to grit my teeth and bear it or run out of patience. I’m sorry to say that it ended up being the latter.
The film is filled with trashy lines from the start, with no real plot other than two daughters looking after their father. Both Demi Moore and Parker Posey seem to be trying to get into their characters, with Parker Posey acting over-the-top as “Posh,” the selfish sister, and Demi Moore as the lower-class one, but neither actress can save this film no matter how hard they try. There have been numerous films over the years about dysfunctional families, some entertaining, some not so. The topic of crazy relatives is a popular one for directors, probably as they think it is an easy way to lure viewers, but I think that well of ideas is beginning to dry up. In my opinion, only director Tim Burton can really pull off a great film about crazy characters, especially with his muse Johnny Depp as in the upcoming Alice in Wonderland. Overall, this film should have been chucked into the Bucket List, and I hope that the next indie flick is not only more creative, but cheerful.
Happy Tears • Dolby® Digital surround sound in select theatres • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 • Running Time: 95 minutes • MPAA Rating: R for language, drug use, and some sexual content including brief nudity. • Distributed by Roadside Attractions