How To Be

How to be happy – play an unfinished song in front of a barely entertained crowd. First, if you’re into comedy with traditional ha-ha and ohmygod that is ridiculous then you would probably be crying (from boredom) in this movie. But if you like films that are hilarious because it is heartachingly possible that these scenarios happen in life, then you will laugh – with wits. I think the reason why I like it and what makes it funny is that it is so painfully close to life that it resembles tragic comedy. Like you don’t know to laugh or cry, and it’s also an extra bonus when you see Robert Pattinson – main character oh ho ho - being mopey dopey like he’s on happy drugs trying to cure his unhappiness all the while donning terrible hair (where’s the Edward charm now, girls?) and sweatshirts. He also bangs his head on inanimate objects like lampposts and a tree.

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But honestly, I think this is a rather good film. And the fact that Art (oh yes our protagonist) hires a therapist from Canada, no less to make him “more normal” adds to the incredulity of the story. By this point, I think you’d feel something like exasperation and trying hard not to laugh. Dr. Ellington is totally unhelpful; his book is filled with biting motivational mojo you see in the self-help section in Borders which cheesy chapter titles and annoying advertising print.

Funny number 2: Nikki and Ronnie. Friends of Art are just as ridiculous. Nikki, nerd turned crazy person cum electronic drummer; Ronnie the guy who lives on his dad’s money because he doesn’t like his father’s new girlfriend. He’s also a rhythm mixer whose apartment has naked mannequins that makes sounds when you touch them.

But the potently funny scenes are the ones where Art says “It’s great-grandfather’s grave. And we are all here. Today.” in an attempt to “bond” with his totally oblivious, neglectful, too-busy parents and another when he tries to hug his mother but you can see her frantically pushing away with all her might. There’s also the car that Art buys which doesn’t really move all that much in the movie except when he sleeps in it after he moves out and have a garage sale in front of it. Then he sells the car and mostly all of his possessions except for his guitar. Aspiring singer we have here. His “acoustic sounds” are incredibly funny to watch because he struggles to “express [him]self” with the wonderful element of music but failure is obviously imminent. The ending is a glimmering hope for our rising star, though.

What’s good about independent films is that they don’t really give a damn about what the audience thinks about the ending because they don’t need fairytale endings. And none of those inspirational sob story about discovering yourself either. This film plays that facet so subtly you barely notice it by the end of the film. All the while you’re watching a 20-something suffering from “quarter life crisis” staggering through painfully cringing situations, finding a way to relieve himself of unhappiness. That suffocation is easy to pick out and then we’re either feeling hopeless or hopeful for him, laughing at all the right bits, cheering him on – so I think that’s what made this a rather enjoying film to watch.

Definitely has the brooding element like in the Twilight films.