Happy Christmas

Joe Swanberg (2014)

78min

15 Certificate

Review

Our Score

by James Luxford

Anna Kendrick's heartbroken party girl moves in with her brother and his wife in this festive comedy that is at once familiar and unique. The plot doesn't deviate wildly from other "nightmare sibling" comedies, yet the loose, improvisational style feels refreshingly different. Unlike many films centred around family, Happy Christmas is populated with pleasantly destructive personalities. Kendrick's character isn't a nightmare, she's just a bit lost; while sister-in-law Melanie Lynskey greets her shenanigans with a restrained frustration that feels very real. A nice but not exactly shocking finale caps off a comedy that trundles along enjoyably, buoyed by the talent and enthusiasm of those involved. If you need a Christmas film with more heart and less schmaltz, this could be the right choice.

Summary

A woman moves in with her brother and his family after her latest break-up. She begins a relationship with a drug dealer who babysits the couple's two-year-old son, while also trying to persuade her sister-in-law that she needs to try and get more out of her life. Comedy drama, starring Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey and Lena Dunham.