Sanitized, predictable, and utterly cheesy, Happiness for Beginners feels like one of those TV movies made to fill the time in between the stuff people actually watch. It’s baffling how wasted Kemper is here; the actress’ signature pep, which was fully utilized in shows like The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, is nowhere to be found. She plays a grump who, by the sheer power of love and friendship, transforms into a happier person, but even then we see no trace of Kemper’s infectious energy. It was hinted that Kemper’s character, Helen, struggles with depression, but the film is either unwilling or incapable of digging further and offering Helen actual solutions, like therapy or medicine. The movie’s saving grace is the ensemble behind Kemp, who thankfully are able to exercise their comic chops. Nico Santos, Ben Cook, and Gus Birney deserve a special mention for their full-bodied and entertaining performances.
"Like a mapped-out trail, you know where it will end up, but there's enough to enjoy along the way."
— Nell Minow
At a crossroads after her divorce, a schoolteacher ventures toward a fresh start in life — and love — when she signs up for a grueling group hiking trip.
Helen Carpenter (Ellie Kemper) signs up for an intense camping trip but gets more than what she bargained for when she’s joined by an eclectic group of campers that includes her brother’s best friend Jake (Luke Grimes).
To be fair, I’ve learned a lot of useful things about hiking and the wilderness. I’ll be thinking about this movie a lot if I ever get lost in the middle of the woods. If you’re looking for a solid romantic comedy, you can skip this one. But if you’re looking to prep for you upcoming camping trip? This could come in surprisingly handy.
A slightly better-made Hallmark movie, if I’ve ever seen one.
