This delightful quirky comedy can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Daisy Axon plays Candice Phee, a cheery, red-headed, dictionary-reading, bicycle-riding swot, who wants to restore the happiness of her mum (Emma Booth), who can't get over the cot-death of Candice's baby brother, and dad (Richard Roxburgh), who is still angry over business bust-up with his brother, 'Rich Uncle Brian' (Joel Jackson). Full of other interesting side characters (her friend, 'Douglas Benson from another dimension' (Wesley Patten), her eccentric teacher with one rolling eye (Miriam Margolyes of course) and Douglas' full-on mum (Deborah Mailman)) and animals; well-written and acted; and set in a beautiful sun-drenched coastal town, this film will delight the open-hearted. It also made me want to travel to Albany to see if it is really is so lovely.
15 Reviews
cute sweet sincere
SnoopyStyle2 May 2021
Candice Phee is an outspoken 13 year old who gets ridiculed by the rest of the class especially mean girl Jen Marshall. Despite her aggressive happiness, her home life is dysfunctional. Her mother is depressed after the death of Candice's baby sister three years earlier. Her father is angry at his rich brother whom he believes to have stolen his great idea. New kid Douglas Benson believes that he's from another dimension and falls for Candice right away. Their wonky-eyed teacher assigns the class project Life as an Alphabet.
This is cute. I don't recognize any of the actors although Emma Booth seems familiar. The kids are newcomers. Daisy Axon has the eagerness even if she's unpolished. The acting is generally fine with good sincerity. The story is a little over-stuffed. It seems every character has a story in this movie. This is cute, sweet, and sincere. The filmmaking is good. With so many things going on, the emotional arc gets a bit muddled but the sweetness is never far away. That has a lot to do with little Daisy.
This is cute. I don't recognize any of the actors although Emma Booth seems familiar. The kids are newcomers. Daisy Axon has the eagerness even if she's unpolished. The acting is generally fine with good sincerity. The story is a little over-stuffed. It seems every character has a story in this movie. This is cute, sweet, and sincere. The filmmaking is good. With so many things going on, the emotional arc gets a bit muddled but the sweetness is never far away. That has a lot to do with little Daisy.
E is for Enjoyable, I is for Imperfect.
david-rector-850925 October 2020
H is For Happiness has a lot of tonal shifts; some of which work, some don't. There is trauma and dysfunction at the base of this film, but there is a sunny disposition that might work for some kids, but the darker elements certainly won't, and likewise the adults will struggle with some of the twee and tweenie elements but appreciate the more substantial themes here of healing, redemptive love and tolerance.
Emma Booth and Richard Roxburgh make for an odd couple - both excellent actors in their own right, but the age difference immediately struck me as a problem. Joel Jackson as the brother to Roxburgh is also bizarre as there is at least 20 + years age difference between them. Nevertheless, the young child actor Daisy Axon is wonderful and truly shines in the leading role. Also impressive here is the quirky Bi National Miriam Margolyes as the very haughty and optically challenged school teacher. She is a lot of fun and quite poignant.
I am not sure that the various themes and tones of the competing narrative threads sit all that well together here, but at the end of the day, there's lots to enjoy here. Exactly who the audience is though is a conundrum as it often is for the Aussie film industry when a story as interesting as this one comes along.
Emma Booth and Richard Roxburgh make for an odd couple - both excellent actors in their own right, but the age difference immediately struck me as a problem. Joel Jackson as the brother to Roxburgh is also bizarre as there is at least 20 + years age difference between them. Nevertheless, the young child actor Daisy Axon is wonderful and truly shines in the leading role. Also impressive here is the quirky Bi National Miriam Margolyes as the very haughty and optically challenged school teacher. She is a lot of fun and quite poignant.
I am not sure that the various themes and tones of the competing narrative threads sit all that well together here, but at the end of the day, there's lots to enjoy here. Exactly who the audience is though is a conundrum as it often is for the Aussie film industry when a story as interesting as this one comes along.
Delightful and simple
ToddRee21 July 2020
This is a hypothetical kind of feature film. The story is not too great but has very interesting and funny character that carry to entire story along. There is a cultural mix which is shown in the classroom sequences, a kid with the orange turban is shown as Punjabi but he is not wearing it properly. Major mistake on that. The idea and the concept is great. A small girl tried to fix the family issues and her story amidst all these situations is really a delight to watch but as some point it looked like an exaggerated version. Anyways, can watch for a change of mood.
Absolutely Charming
superenigmatix4 June 2020
Outstanding
kimmanias13 May 2020
amazing. outstanding.
laurenp-322278 February 2020
This movie CHANGED MY LIFE. wow. the twists and turns were so unexpectedly amazing and smart. candace played an important roll of a moody but amazing girl changing through her life in middle school. and don't even get me started on DOUGLAS BENSON FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION. 100% my absolute FAVOURITE character. i was sitting in the movie cinema with no thought of what was to come from this movie. but every little detail brightened up my day. not ever did i think i would get out of bed to see "H is for happiness." i think the plot was amazing. although some parts were a tad weird it really did brighten up the movie for me. thank you so much for creating this tremendously beautiful movie it changed me in so many ways for what's to come in the future.
A new kind of parent trap, great for family movie night...
downthehobbitholeblog18 September 2020
It's a new kind of Parent Trap!
Candice does not fit in with the other kids, she's very literal and loves school. People call her odd. Douglas is also odd. Meeting him inspires her to try something miraculous- to reunite her grieving family and get her parents back together. A huge adventure that starts with meeting the new kid and getting a new homework assignment! This is a cute family comedy!
Parents should know that there is a family death that's central to the storyline as well as a lot of bullying around special needs. For more parent info, check out our full review on down the hobbit hole blog dot com. Based on the popular Australian YA Book- My Life as an Alphabet (released in the US as The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee). It's a great movie/book combo for 10+! A dramedy with a lot of heart!
Parents should know that there is a family death that's central to the storyline as well as a lot of bullying around special needs. For more parent info, check out our full review on down the hobbit hole blog dot com. Based on the popular Australian YA Book- My Life as an Alphabet (released in the US as The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee). It's a great movie/book combo for 10+! A dramedy with a lot of heart!
Do not judge the movie by the trailer
Hamlet216 April 2020
This is a wonderful movie that I understand did badly in the cinemas. The trailer was possibly the worst ever seen in this country. It gave the viewer no indication whatever of the storyline or contents. The movie is funny, sad and offbeat and the locations are wonderful. There are several spectacular and totally unpredictable action sequences. I highly recommend "H" to all age groups.
Delightful. This movie will put a smile on your face and a little warmth in your heart.
mickgmovies10 October 2020
All too often we watch movies and come out feeling heavy, angsty and drained. This is movie that is the polar opposite - it replenishes, uplifts and puts a smile on your face - and a little warmth in your heart.
It blends: fantasy, quirkiness, wonderfully saturated cinematography and an evocative score that transports you away from your reality - whilst grounding you gently in the reality that is life.
Favourite scene has to be the final on-stage performance. It was a master-stroke and left me laughing and crying.
It blends: fantasy, quirkiness, wonderfully saturated cinematography and an evocative score that transports you away from your reality - whilst grounding you gently in the reality that is life.
Favourite scene has to be the final on-stage performance. It was a master-stroke and left me laughing and crying.
Great
jschumacher-101999 February 2020
Quality
pentaxal8 August 2020
Set in Albany WA this movie deals with tragedy and conflict. The characters are powerless to manage their problems. Impacting the next generation. Limited by delusion and aspergers they attempt to plan a better future. Rising up to the challenge of shaping their futures by confronting old feuds and fallout of famiky tragedy.
if you need a boost..
ops-525356 May 2020
And an alternative way to h for heaven, than have a look at this one. its definately the best australian film ive ever seen, its so full of smile, hope , happiness and a whole lot of grief and dispair.
what amazes me most is the performance of Daisy Axon, the main character actress, shes among the best in her class,. if you hate aussie movies, i will recommend a watch just to see ms.axon doing hre job at the very very best of excellence and adolescent film art., especially one scene where she cries out her frustrations and agony with natural tears made both me , the grumpy old man and his wife gawp at eachother, shes a supertalent and shall be pusuited in the years to come. it would be a shame to forget wesley patton on the mention list, hes darn sharp in his acting and make his counterpart shine even more.
if your in for high quality production , i shall mention screenplay, use of locations and an excellent filmography. the score has to be good and empasising when i award a 10 star, and my gawd was it good. the direction and editing along with clever sound effects and a whole lot of humour makes this a bullseye watch for all and everyone. if i shall try to compare with other films, just to tell wich of my emotional string it played on, its forrest gump and road to terabithia.
a major recommend to all of you that like to reminisate and fondle good memories from the childhood, then ''H is for happiness'' is the choice
what amazes me most is the performance of Daisy Axon, the main character actress, shes among the best in her class,. if you hate aussie movies, i will recommend a watch just to see ms.axon doing hre job at the very very best of excellence and adolescent film art., especially one scene where she cries out her frustrations and agony with natural tears made both me , the grumpy old man and his wife gawp at eachother, shes a supertalent and shall be pusuited in the years to come. it would be a shame to forget wesley patton on the mention list, hes darn sharp in his acting and make his counterpart shine even more.
if your in for high quality production , i shall mention screenplay, use of locations and an excellent filmography. the score has to be good and empasising when i award a 10 star, and my gawd was it good. the direction and editing along with clever sound effects and a whole lot of humour makes this a bullseye watch for all and everyone. if i shall try to compare with other films, just to tell wich of my emotional string it played on, its forrest gump and road to terabithia.
a major recommend to all of you that like to reminisate and fondle good memories from the childhood, then ''H is for happiness'' is the choice
Enjoyable in every way
buxmedia13 January 2024
Beautifully written, acted, staged, and shot. A really lovely movie. The sets were colourful and luscious. Being set in Albany in western Australia gave it special charm and reminded me of my childhood in WA. The main premise of this movie is sensitively treated and while sad at times, had lots of heartwarming and funny moments. The children's school performance was the highlight for me. I wanted to watch this movie again the minute it finished. It was on free to air and I caught it by accident. I wish it was on a streaming channels. Daisy Axon was perfectly cast. Actually, the whole cast did a superb job. Thank you.
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