Happiness Adjacent (2018) User Reviews

Has it's problems, but good modest effort

[peterscarpinato · 6/10 · 29 March 2020]

I have seen a couple of Rob Williams other films and enjoyed them. "Make the Yuletide Gay" was probably my favorite of his to date. I thought the premise of this film seemed interesting. A young gay man traveling on a cruise alone makes a connection with another male passenger who is traveling with his wife. As his wife is often seasick, the two get to spend much time together and begin to fall in love. I was pretty sure I knew where this was going, especially after meeting the wife who was portrayed as a one dimensional airhead. Then to my surprise, the story got more complex, the wife became more sympathetic, and I realized I was being dismissive of a film that truly had something to say. The lead character Hank (Adam Fried) is a likable character whom we root for and he and Kurt (Ian Dick) have a nice chemistry. There is some clunky dialogue and I could have done without the cringey Jewish humor, buy overall I enjoyed this film. I even stayed for the end credits and was shocked and impressed to find out the whole film was filmed with an IPhone 6s plus!

Low budget with forced acting, but a sweet little story

[qui_j · 5/10 · 26 May 2020]

This was obviously filmed on a very low budget, and maybe edited on a home computer. However, it was watchable and the story was quite sweet and true to form. The whole "Jewish humor" seemed a bit out of place at times but guess it played some sort of role in defining the character. Since these relationships usually end the same way, it was not a surprising ending.

The 'Love Boat' episode we never saw

[Fleharty · 6/10 · 2 July 2020]

First: the entire film was shot on an iPhone. The production equipment cost was $799.99. This is the future of film-making, and that makes titles like this possible. Second: I've wasted more time on worse movies from big studios. This wasn't a waste. The story was told tightly. The characters made as much sense as they could, and are people I'd probably want to know (although the couple would be at a few backyard barbecues, or for run-ins at the neighborhood farmers' markets). Hank, though.....a version of Woody Allen's everysinglecharacter with whom I could actually enjoy a conversation. I worked at sea for a cruise line for years, and yes, this script could've been lifted almost word for word from the very similar encounters I saw between gay guys and a male-female couples while plying the Briny Deep. I'd watch this again. Unrequited Love is never an out-of-date subject. Unfortunately.

Rewarding after a ROCKY start

[notmicro · 6/10 · 6 January 2021]

A VERY rocky start. The lead actor's role seems to have been written as a tiny gay Woody Allen clone, complete with endless, grating neurotic ramblings that normally only a paid shrink would listen to. As a viewer, you have to quickly get used to Hank's quirky delivery, the iPhone camera-work, and the endless wandering around the cruise ship. When he encounters (married closeted bi-sexual) hunky ginger Kurt, gears shift, and things start to heat up, including several surprisingly steamy sex-scenes. Then some pretty heavy drama ensues, involving compassion, heart, and emotions coming into play. In the end they've returned to port in L.A., a lot has happened in a week, and their lives are never going to be quite the same.

Sweet movie

[ChRiS-803 · 6/10 · 2 August 2021]

Once you get past the "amateur" side to the production and acting, this is a sweet movie. The opening is a bit rough but it settles into its groove quickly and the characters are easy to connect with. I think people are focusing too much on the production qualities which are subpar but the story is very relatable and the dialogue and scenes are very true. I didn't like Adam Fried's character at the beginning but he really connected with me and made it an interesting and touching story.

Waste of time

[swimford · 1/10 · 28 January 2021]

One of the worst LGBTQ+ films I've seen. Not sure the performances could be any worse. The script is amateur and embarrassing. The lead actor is incredibly annoying and boring. About an hour and a half of my life I'll never get back.

Another Rob Williams movie

[danielw-49884 · 3/10 · 27 February 2020]

Not the best of his movies. What the filmed the movie with a phone? Look like school project and no even them put a movie like this. Sad for Williams but not his best work.

Ironically Charming for a Low Budget Film

[carsonjake88-383-632022 · 8/10 · 22 May 2020]

I agree with some of the other reviews that I went into this one with super low expectations. In the end it actually did have a little substance. There were humorous parts and some sexy scenes that did help make the whole romance seem real and not forced. I definitely agree that the Jewish humor is a little much. I think the kind of charming part of this movie is it seems like they just booked a cruise and filmed rogue. It was a little awkward at first but I kind of appreciated that it did make it feel a bit more organic. It does definitely look like it was shot on a iPhone 6s, but it definitely works with the whole low-budget charm this has. The takeaway for me was that I always wasted so much time chasing unavailable and confused guys and I think the movie does a good job of reminding us gay boys to seek out guys who will 100% show up for us and the movie didn't preach it to me like many other gay movies do.

Fun and sexy

[dmoorejdrf · 8/10 · 19 February 2021]

I really enjoyed this film, probably because I had absolutely no expectations. The chemistry between the two main actors, Adam Fried and Ian Duck was believable and you sensed areal attraction for each other. I am a little surprised that it isn't found on more recommended lists. My only disappointment was that the guys didn't head off into the sunset together!

Better than I expected

[tlutzy · 8/10 · 13 March 2024]

I was searching around for a gay-themed movie and stumbled on "Happiness Adjacent." I didn't know anything about the producer/director or any of the actors, so I had low expectations at best. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it and found it to be better than I expected, given the low production values. I thought the chemistry between Hank and Kurt seemed real, though I thought Rachel Alig's (as Kate) acting a little too energetic. Unlike some other reviewers, I found the Jewish humor to be fun and funny. Maybe that's because I grew up in a suburb that was 50% Jewish and most of my friends were Jewish. I had Jewish friends whose mothers actually said some of the things Hank imagined his mother would say. Give this movie a try.

Low budget, all filmed on an iPhone 6S, heartfelt protagonists

[andredejongh · 8/10 · 9 April 2023]

If you are able to consume a low budget film with not the best sound, where they probably filmed in real time during a cruise and probably didn't have hours to take and retake and retake and retake scenes to get the best acting performances, they probably also didn't have much time to rehearse.... then this is really a remarkable feature.... all shot on an iPhone 6S (so they said in the opening titles (or was it the closing titles?).... During the film you really get invested in the two characters... especially Ian Dick (yes that is really his name :-D ).... creates a character you really feel.... the connection between the two men you feel also.... then it is almost like you are watching something filmed in real life (which in fact is true) and not a produced slick film.... the editing is really good also... one scene they had to use subtitles because they weren't using microphones and the sound of water was too loud.... All in all a lovely sweet film with two endearing GOOD actors who know to translates emotions well to us viewers.... Lovely...

This is a good Real Life Story kind of movie

[shydreamguywantsabboyfriend · 10/10 · 21 January 2021]

Some people will be angry that this is so realistic that it probably happened For Real ,exactly as written Zero Embellishments .