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Little Shots of Happiness (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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Little Shots of Happiness (1997) -- Open-ended Trailer from Vanguard Cinema

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Overview

User Rating:
4.4/10   72 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 30% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Jim Dwyer (writer)
Todd Verow (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Little Shots of Happiness on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Plot:
Frances Collins has been married five years and isn't yet at ease with her married name. She packs a suitcase and heads for work... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
3 wins more
User Comments:
Disappointing, Disjointed, Dull more (2 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Bonnie Dickenson ... Frances
Todd Verow ... Frances' Husband
Linda Eknoian ... Rita
Rita Gavelis ... Kate

P.J. Marino ... Brian
Castalia Jason ... Frances' Sister
Leanne Whitney ... Lisa
Bil Dwyer ... Bill
Eric Sapp ... Neurotic Man
Maureen Picard ... Widow
Eric Roemele ... John
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for substance abuse, sexual content, language and some violence.
Runtime:
83 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:

FAQ

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4 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
Disappointing, Disjointed, Dull, 15 January 2005
2/10
Author: Nikolaus Maack from Ottawa, On

It's a shallow movie pretending to be deep. And it looks like it was filmed with a toy movie camera held by an epileptic, featuring a non-stop soundtrack of repetitive sound mixed with broken bits of punk songs. The dialogue was recorded underwater, that's the only thing that can explain how bad the sound is. The film is stuffed with bad acting and improvised scenes that go on endlessly.

All of this could possibly be forgiven -- it's a low budget picture -- but this film is awful. There's just nothing there of any interest. Well, that's not entirely true. There are glimmers of promise, and a weak storyline of interest, but it all flops around aimlessly, like the movie has been stabbed in the legs.

The film features dialogue like the following:

"Can I have a cigarette?" "How'd you know I was a smoker?" "I had a feeling." "Smoking's bad for you." "So what?" Snarky, surprised, "So what?!"

And the characters spar and fuss and half-play, without ever actually saying anything. I believe the example I've provided is supposed to be strangers flirting. That should give you an idea of what you're in for.

I suspect it was all done to feel realistic -- the jerky camera, the bad dialogue, the improvised scenes, the bad sound. It's all so jarring that the movie is almost unwatchable. (And I normally don't mind "cinema verite" camera work.) Worst of all, nothing really happens. Characters come and go. The plot spins its wheels and just peters out into nothing.

The ending (which I will not mention) sums up the cold, callous, disinterested feeling of the entire film. It's flat, almost utterly emotionless. I suspect the end is supposed to be funny in that "ironic" way. It isn't. It's just the dull little cherry on top of the dull little sundae.

Watch for the paintings on the wall in a few scenes -- I suspect the director had a painter friend he wanted to promote. The paintings are sort of interesting, but unfortunately the camera doesn't stay still long enough to get a good look at them.

This movie has won awards, supposedly. That baffles me.

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