A psychiatrist searches the globe to find the secret of happiness.A psychiatrist searches the globe to find the secret of happiness.A psychiatrist searches the globe to find the secret of happiness.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 6 nominations total
- Pathetic Jane
- (as Tracy Ann Oberman)
Featured reviews
The movie starts slowly giving us a brief idea about his life, the complications he faces, and the main motivation to start the search for happiness.
A good thing that you will get an answer, not a direct one, but your inner voice will be satisfied with the definitions given for happiness.
"Simon Pegg" acting is remarkable here, his soul is present in his actions and reactions, which made each scene runs smoothly. All other actors did great and the movie introduced them in a very brief way.
The movie is a very light comedy, you will keep smiling the whole time, and may be laugh out loud in few scenes.
The bad points mainly about the script and the plot, the events run from one point to another very quickly and some of the actions are not justified.
Finally, it's a good light philosophical movie, not comparable to "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", but they can be categorized together. You may feel bored a little bit especially in the first half of it but then enjoyment is guaranteed.
Turned out to be a great film. Funny, poignant, and inspiring all at once. Simon Pegg is terrific as a psychiatrist who experiences a sort of existential crisis, and decides to disrupt his tidy, organize, and predictable life to search for the makings of Happiness. His research produces a collection of Buddhist-like conclusions about what may or may not lead to happiness. Along the way, Pegg's character, Hector, begins to 'live', and we the viewer, if we're paying attention, gain some philosophical insights.
The more I think about this film, the more layers of meaning and nuance I realize were lurking beneath the surface of this thoroughly delightful movie. I left the cinema feeling introspective, inspired, and ...Happy. I was moved to indulge in some of the little things that make me happy: a few bars of Amedei chocolate, a meander through the arboretum, a book of poetry; as well as moved to examine what things in my life lead to happiness, and what things lead to unhappiness.
This is a film I would like to see again, and will likely purchase for my movie library.
OK, sometimes it was a little bit too heavy handed and I believe that choosing an actor for the lead that didn't have Pegg's silly happy funny face could have doomed this film. As such, I wonder how have I not heard of this movie? Why is everyone talking about superheroes and no one about this film? Is it just because it is not an American film?
I thought that the script juggled very well with the viewers expectations. Then there are Jean Reno's role, Rosamund Pike's - especially after Gone Girl, I know that this movie comes first, but the result of watching it now is quite unexpected - and, of course, Christopher Plummer - may he live forever. Quite small, but perfect in their value to the story.
Bottom line: watch the film. It can't hurt and it can really help. Give it a try. It's not a new age hum and meditate thing, it's ... real? It feels so.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Hector visits the Himalayas, the flags are Tibetan prayer flags, whose colors represent the five elements. Health and harmony can be produced with the balance of all the elements. It is the belief that the wind will carry the prayers and mantras to provide good will and compassion to the surrounding areas.
- GoofsHector ask the pilot to reduce altitude to help reduce cabin air pressure on a women who was having severe head pain. Commercial aircraft cabin pressure is held at a constant 6 to 8 thousand feet. Changing altitude of a commercial jet airplane will not effect cabin pressure unless there is a failure with the aircraft such as a hole in the aircraft pressure vessel.
- Quotes
Hector: 1. Making comparisons can spoil your happiness.
Hector: 2. A lot of people think happiness means being richer or more important.
Hector: 3. Many people only see happiness in their future.
Hector: 4. Happiness could be the freedom to love more than one woman at the same time.
Hector: 5. Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story.
Hector: 6. Avoiding unhappiness is not the road to happiness.
Hector: 7. Does this person bring you predominantly a. up b. down?
Hector: 8. Happiness is answering your calling.
Hector: 9. Happiness is being loved for who you are.
Hector: 10. Sweet Potato Stew!
Hector: 11. Fear is an impediment to happiness.
Hector: 12. Happiness is feeling completely alive.
Hector: 13. Happiness is knowing how to celebrate.
Hector: 14. Listening is loving.
Hector: 15. Nostalgia is not what it used to be.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Projector: Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
- SoundtracksAbout As Helpful As You Can Be Without Being Any Help At All
Written by Dan Mangan & Kenton Loewen
Performed by Dan Mangan
Orchestral arrangements by Eyvind Kang
Published by Dan Mangan Music (SOCAN)
Courtesy of Arts & Crafts Productions
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Hành Trình Đến Hạnh Phúc
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,124,445
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $40,847
- Sep 21, 2014
- Gross worldwide
- $6,337,728
- Runtime1 hour 54 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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