Ellie Kemper not only reaffirms her comedic charm by taking on another leading role, but also immerses herself in a narrative that challenges the light conventions of romantic comedies. Under the sensitive direction of Vicky Wight, who subtly adapts Katherine Center’s material, “Happiness for Beginners” transforms an apparently simple script into a kind of introspective journey, cloaked in escapism. What seems to be just another story of starting over after divorce becomes a delicate portrait of the silent struggle many face when they realize the life they built cannot withstand the weight of their own dissatisfactions.
Helen, methodical and immersed in self-imposed rules, feels adrift after the end of a marriage that took more than it gave. It is in this void of identity that she finds herself forced to abandon predictability and venture into the wild vastness of the Appalachians — not so much for nature itself, but for something resembling a last-ditch effort not to succumb to existential paralysis. The hike is physical, but above all symbolic — a crossing toward herself, where each stumble, literal or not, reveals the burden of her insecurities and the urgent need to let go of old certainties.
The group of hikers, made up of quirky and eccentric figures, serves as both a mirror and a contrast for Helen, lightly showing how each person’s uniqueness contributes to the rebuilding of human connections, so often forgotten in the automatism of adult life. Among them, Jake, an enigmatic figure who escapes easy classification, becomes a catalyst for a subtle change. More than a love interest, he represents a reminder that maturity and sensitivity are not mutually exclusive, and that setting cynicism aside might be the first step toward a more genuine affection.
The script balances humor and the characters’ emotional fragility well, avoiding easy sentimentality. The comedic situations, sometimes absurd, do not diminish the seriousness of the central theme: the search for meaning that is not imposed, but earned. Helen, with her stumbles and small victories, embodies a transformative experience that rejects the clichés of “happily ever after” and finds satisfaction in the courage to try again. The chemistry between Kemper and Grimes does not rely on the usual sexual tension, but on the tenderness of care, the sharing of silences, and the quiet complicity that arises when two souls allow themselves to be seen.
“Happiness for Beginners” offers no easy answers, but invites the viewer to accept uncertainty as an inevitable part of any path worth taking. In the end, it is not about Helen finding new love, but about realizing that happiness, far from being a fixed point, is made of fleeting moments that accumulate when one dares to live beyond the script.
Film: Happiness for Beginners
Director: Vicky Wight
Year: 2023
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Rating: 9/10