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IMDbPro

Hector and the Search for Happiness

  • 2014
  • R
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
49K
YOUR RATING
Simon Pegg in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
Hector is a quirky psychiatrist who has become increasingly tired of his humdrum life. As he tells his girlfriend, Clara, he feels like a fraud: he hasnÂ’t really tasted life, and yet heÂ’s offering advice to patients who are just not getting any happier. So Hector decides to break out of his deluded and routine driven life. Armed with buckets of courage and child-like curiosity, he embarks on a global quest in hopes of uncovering the elusive secret formula for true happiness.
Play trailer2:33
46 Videos
78 Photos
AdventureComedyDrama

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.

  • Director
    • Peter Chelsom
  • Writers
    • Maria von Heland
    • Peter Chelsom
    • Tinker Lindsay
  • Stars
    • Simon Pegg
    • Rosamund Pike
    • Tracy-Ann Oberman
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    49K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Chelsom
    • Writers
      • Maria von Heland
      • Peter Chelsom
      • Tinker Lindsay
    • Stars
      • Simon Pegg
      • Rosamund Pike
      • Tracy-Ann Oberman
    • 157User reviews
    • 125Critic reviews
    • 29Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos46

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    Trailer 2:33
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    Trailer 2:38
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    Clip 1:23
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    Photos78

    Simon Pegg in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Barry Atsma and Simon Pegg in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Simon Pegg and Rosamund Pike in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Peter Chelsom, Simon Pegg, and Rosamund Pike in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Simon Pegg and Rosamund Pike in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Rosamund Pike in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Simon Pegg in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Simon Pegg in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Robbie Brenner, Peter Chelsom, Veronica Ferres, and Tucker Tooley in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Simon Pegg in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Peter Chelsom and Veronica Ferres in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    Peter Chelsom and Simon Pegg in Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Simon Pegg
    Simon Pegg
    • Hector
    Rosamund Pike
    Rosamund Pike
    • Clara
    Tracy-Ann Oberman
    Tracy-Ann Oberman
    • Pathetic Jane
    • (as Tracy Ann Oberman)
    Jean Reno
    Jean Reno
    • Diego Baresco
    Veronica Ferres
    Veronica Ferres
    • Anjali
    Barry Atsma
    Barry Atsma
    • Michael
    Ming Zhao
    Ming Zhao
    • Ying Li
    Togo Igawa
    Togo Igawa
    • Old Monk
    Christopher Plummer
    Christopher Plummer
    • Professor Coreman
    Bruce Fontaine
    Bruce Fontaine
    • Malcolm
    Chad Willett
    Chad Willett
    • Alan
    Bernard Cuffling
    Bernard Cuffling
    • Professor Niedorf
    Jakob Davies
    Jakob Davies
    • Young Hector
    Chris Gauthier
    Chris Gauthier
    • Roger
    Dean Paul Gibson
    Dean Paul Gibson
    • Joyless Husband
    Michael Adamthwaite
    Michael Adamthwaite
    • Queen's Guard
    Vincent Gale
    Vincent Gale
    • Clara's Boss
    Gabrielle Rose
    Gabrielle Rose
    • French Proprietress
    • Director
      • Peter Chelsom
    • Writers
      • Maria von Heland
      • Peter Chelsom
      • Tinker Lindsay
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When 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.
    • Goofs
      Hector uses computers and more specifically Skype several times to videochat with his girlfriend, yet none of the computers he uses seem to be equipped with the necessary camera or microphone that enables his girlfriend to see and hear him.
    • 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.

    • Connections
      Featured in Projector: Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      About 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

    User reviews157

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Great fun---what else do you need?
    Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

    I suppose the title makes clear that this is a journey and that it has some pitfalls. I mean, there is no easy solution to the problem of finding happiness. Unless you find that you had it all along. Such is the potential here as Hector (the hilarious and versatile Simon Pegg) leaves his somewhat normal but semi-nice girlfriend in London to search the world for true happiness. Yeah, really.

    So it's a fable, of course. No one does this quite so easily or with such lucky (and grossly unlikely) connections along the way. But the clichés of happiness, beginning with plain old rich decadence, and then Tibetan monks who have some sense of pure deep undecadent innocent joy. And then a whole series of alternative of people who have some part of happiness. Hector takes notes and keeps going, his girlfriend frustrated but materially distracted in their posh pad.

    When things turn for the worse you know (since it's a fable) that it will not stay that way. New adventures arise.

    But does he find happiness? Or is it, like Dorothy in Oz, a bit like you realize there is truly no place like home?

    What makes this very fun, very unexpected romp worthwhile above all is the funny fun and sometimes very serious performance by Pegg. He's got a well known screen presence from the wacky comedies (like "Shawn of the Dead") and in a way he plays off of that here. But he also transcends it enough to make you believe there is more than meets the eye here. The whole movie is fun because he's fun to be with.

    And will you learn a thing about what makes people happy? I hope not, because this is a stream of clichés without much or any insight. You can shout—hey, that's not the point— but it still leaves the movie a bit superficial.

    It leaves it very fun, too, however, and all is quite well in the end. See it. It's quite cheerful.
    helpful•21
    6
    • secondtake
    • Jun 12, 2015

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    FAQ1

    • Who provides the narration? It sounds like Ian McKellan.

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 14, 2014 (Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • Canada
      • United Kingdom
      • South Africa
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Hành Trình Đến Hạnh Phúc
    • Filming locations
      • Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Production companies
      • Egoli Tossell Pictures
      • Film Afrika Worldwide
      • Construction Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,124,445
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $40,847
      • Sep 21, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,337,728
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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