#SanchitaMalik

[doomonfilm]

Review : Happy Anniversary (2018)

Relationships have always been difficult, but the information age has forced us to really and truly hold a black mirror up to the way we treat one another, the ones we love, and ourselves.  Of all the places we get to objectively take a look at how we treat one another, film is one of the best avenues.  Netflix, in their blitzkrieg of original films, has tossed their hat into the world of rom coms with Happy Anniversary. 

Mollie (Noël Wells) and Sam (Ben Schwartz) are a young couple very much in love, but at very different stages in regards to how they feel about their relationship on the eve of their 3rd anniversary.  Mollie is full of doubts in regards to the relationship, while Sam is hoping he can convince her to finally take the leap of faith into the relationship.  Mollie’s father (Joe Pantoliano) is undergoing chemotherapy, and her mother (Annie Potts) is distant when not self-involved.  Sam and his business partner Ed (Rahul Kohli) are attempting to sell their clothing line to big time designer Willa (Kristin Bauer van Straten).  In the midst of all of this stress and opportunity, Mollie and Sam dance dangerously between breaking up and taking their relationship to the next level, sometimes at the expense of what could be wonderful moments.

Jared Stern does a great job of presenting the relationship in a fly-on-the-wall observational style, both in the current actions as well as the related flashbacks.  The flashback moments are dropped in without specific designation as such, but their relation to the moments at hand make them clear and obvious as well as being economical and emotionally informative.  The moments that could be considered trite or trope-ish are handled with wonderful grace and truth reactions, making them enjoyable rather than distracting to the narrative based on their standard familiarity.  

The narrative is extremely strong and well-written.  Sam and Mollie find ways to portray themselves as both perfect for one another and at odds that should be easy overcome but are made insurmountable due to their inability to change or understand where one another are coming from.  It is wonderfully frustrating to watch them push when they should pull, or make an emotional reaction when taking the time to listen and talk could help solve things (albeit a quick solution would be at the expense of the film’s run time).  In the end, it’s the misunderstandings that ultimately force them to take the time to focus on what is important : one another.

Noël Wells may accidentally end up typecasting herself in the role of beautifully complex significant other, because she continues to knock these roles out of the park time after time.  Ben Schwartz, who was not my favorite actor after Parks and Rec (I considered him one note, although he hit that note perfectly every time), is starting to win me over with roles like this.  Rahul Kohli has amazing chemistry with Schwartz in their role as business partners and friends.  Annie Potts and the amazing Joe Pantoliano play the loveless marriage role strongly, while still managing to make the individual advice given to Wells hold up without judgement or second thought.  Kristin Bauer van Straten plays her hilarious role wonderfully straight.

This film has what most Netflix original films seem to lack : heart and focus.  Maybe Netflix should pace themselves a bit and handle some grounded projects the likes of Happy Anniversary before throwing their hat into the realm of perceived blockbusters and high budget properties.  If their originals hit me in the feels like this, I’d be more apt to dive in upon discovery.

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Happy Birthday @sanchitamalik. #blackandwhitephotography #empowermentportraiture #birthdaygirl #nickholmesphoto