Film Movement, which operates the uber-fantabulous independent (mostly foreign) Film of the Month Club, is providing a great stay-in date night or ordering pizza and relaxing after a tough week option by releasing the 2013 theatrical British comedy film "Not Another Happy Ending" on VOD platforms on August 8, 2014.
You will come for the performance by Karen Gillan, who makes Amy Pond one of the best ever "Doctor Who" companions, and will stay for both the equally good performance of hilarious French actor Stanley Weber and the fun twists on classic romcom elements.
The overall awesomeness of "Ending" is that the eccentric and damaged characters, indie. soundtrack, and wonderfully bizarre comic developments provide a vibe of a film based on a novel by British author Nick Hornby. These movies include "About A Boy" and "High Fidelity."
The following clip, courtesy of YouTube, of the trailer for "Ending" nicely shows the talents of Gillan and Weber and the overall wit and charm of the film.
The unexpected success of the book coincides with other things in Lockhart's life taking a dramatic turn for the better. This reversal of bad fortune includes the inevitable contract with Duval for a second novel.
Folks who are familiar with the terrific film "The Wonder Boys," which is based on a novel by Hornby-like author Michael Chabon, and similar movies accurately predict that Lockhart experiences writer's block. It is less expected that this freeze manifests itself in wonderfully eccentric ways that include imaginary conversations with her main character and baking enough treats to make the entire population of Glassgow diabetic.
The dire situation has Duval resorting to covertly (and hilariously) sabotaging the happiness of Jane with a goal of restoring her to the miserable state that fuels her creativity. This is a fairly standard (but well executed) take on a theme that has had fictional folks with a horse in the race getting a blocked author to resume a harmful drinking habit, reestablish a toxic relationship, etc.
Much of the humor and charm regarding this scheme relates to Tom recruiting his laid-back but moral sidekick Roddy for the plot. Iain De Caestecker of "The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." does a wonderful job with this Hornby-like deadpan school teacher. Roddy's post-closing-credits scene is one of the best in "Ending."
Stating much about the ensuing hi-jinks related to the attacks on Lockhart's happiness would unduly spoil the enjoyment of the film; on a general note, they include a terrifically amateurish burglary and equally funny effort to prevent Lockhart from an event that is important to someone who recently reentered her life.
The fact that Lockhart discovers the plot, subsequently breaks off contact with Duval, and has a confrontation with him in the final minutes of the film is as predictable as the overall premise. The aforementioned performances and overall quality of "Ending" are what save it from being a Katherine Heigl film that ends up buried at the bottom of the Wal-Mart DVD bargain bin.
Gillan makes us connect with Lockhart in the same manner that she allows Whovians to care about Amy Pond. Further, Duval plays the role of a charming cad to a T.
The final big pronouncement regarding "Endings" is that it once again shows that the U.K. outshines the U.S. when it comes to television and film productions.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Endings" is welcome to email me; connecting on Twitter via @tvdvdguy is another option.
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