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Picture
A psychiatrist travels around the world to
​research the secret to being truly happy.
COMEDY/DRAMA

Hector and the
​Search for Happiness 
(2014)

Directed by Peter Chelsom

Written by Maria von Heland, Peter Chelsom, Tinker Lindsay

Starring Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Stellan Skarsgård,
Jean Reno, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Ming Zhao, ​
​Togo Igawa, Barry Atsma

Based on the novel by Fran
çois Lelord

Connor Eyzaguirre
December 3, 2016
7/10
On the surface, Hector and the Search for Happiness is a blatantly transparent rip-off of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. However, peeling back the veil reveals a film with a great deal of heart. This film relishes its simplicity and shows that happiness is entirely subjective. I don't think anybody but Simon Pegg could've delivered a performance that felt real enough to believe in. While there are some flaws, I was happily surprised by this film for the most part.

I like the characters that Hector (Pegg) encounters on his global journey, from rich businessman Stellan Skarsg
ård to scary drug tycoon Jean Reno. The only I didn't like is the one person the film really wants us to like, Hector's girlfriend Rosamund Pike. Don't get me wrong, I think she's a terrific actress. I just hated how her character, Clara, was written. Clara is quick to anger, controlling, and extremely jealous. Yet, she's supposed to be the woman Hector ends up with. For me, this ruined the end of the movie and pretty much backtracked his entire journey.

Another big flaw is predictability. From the get-go, it's fairly obvious he's going to find himself and meet a ton of interesting characters. I didn't expect the African prison. That threw me for a loop and turned the film extremely dark for a bit. Apart from that, the film is a funny, optimistic, and enjoyable introspective dramedy with a solid cast. Frankly, I think it's probably better than a self-help book.

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Filmgazm is made by movie lovers for movie lovers. We believe in the magic of film and we aim celebrate films of all genres and throughout cinema history, regardless of who's behind the camera or who financed it. We at Filmgazm believe that every film deserves to be reviewed on its own merits and that's what we are here to do. Enjoy the show!
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