Directed by Michael Mayer, and co-written by Mayer and Guy Ayal, Happy Times is set during a Jewish family gathering. The night begins well, but quickly veers off course; cue lots of bloody violence and comedic mayhem. Early reviews for Happy Times have drawn comparisons to early Tarantino, and whilst the influences are obvious, Mayer’s film is its own quirky brand of entertainment.
Leaning heavily into the comedy of errors school of humour, Happy Times presents some excellent gags. The funnier side of events is pushed further with the cast all giving their best portrayal of characters from a telenovela. They never get too silly and over-the-top, but do venture very close to that line before quickly pulling back. There’s a great balancing act going on between the comedy and drama, which Mayer manages to align perfectly. Add to this some eye-watering gore and violence, which is more cartoonish than hyper-realistic, and Happy Times almost becomes a zany comic strip brought to life. This is an ensemble piece; although one could argue that martiarach Sigal (Liraz Chamami) and her cousin Michael (Michael Aloni) get the lionshare of screen time, each and every character has their moment. Whether this is a line or a memorable action, everyone has an opportunity to shine.
There’s always something exciting about narratives based around family get-togethers. Despite the outward facade of being a reunion for loved ones, there’s always a strange vibe bubbling away under the surface, even for the most well-adjusted families. Arguments over something as trivial as a game of Monopoly have been known to cause World War III level drama in some households and so the situation in Happy Times feels entirely plausible. With a wide range of secrets and situations being kept hidden from their families, and Happy Times is a delicious cocktail of drama and intrigue.
One of the really special aspects of Happy Times is its use of multiple languages. With Happy Times focussing on a collection of expat Israelis, there is an argument for making it purely in Hebrew. Another filmmaker could have had the film entirely in English. Mayer blends both Hebrew and English, just as immigrants to a new country do, and adds a smattering of French and Spanish into the mix for good measure. This range of languages accurately reflects a microsim of Los Angeles’ diverse communities whilst also working as a sneaky plot device. Whilst the Hebrew is subtitled, the Spanish is not and those not familiar with the language will miss out on a couple of key lines. This doesn’t ruin the viewing experience, instead it places the viewer in the same position as our characters who themselves do not understand. Those that are familiar with the language however, will simply be privy to a couple of early jokes that allude to events revealed later on.
Simmering tensions bubble over in this fun and frantic journey through family feuds and bloodshed in which the comedy elements really shine. Happy Times taps into the magic of early Tarantino, but displaces it to a more humourful place, achieving maximum enjoyment and giddy glee at the violence hidden within.
Happy Times
Summary
A wonderfully enjoyable blend of telenova, humour, and eye-watering violence, Happy Times is brilliantly entertaining.
Happy Times was reviewed at Grimmfest 2021.
