Add in a magical Shetland pony, elaborate discussions about string theory, a hunkering to travel to Nashville, and it feels like the plot is constantly spinning in different directions.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 25, 2023

H is for Happiness is a first feature for theatre director John Sheedy. He has brought a fresh YA angle to the Aussie coming-of-age comedy, and the entire production is a credit to everyone involved.

| Aug 23, 2022

As it stands, though, I'd say John Sheedy's movie is a goodhearted piece with glimmers of wit and likeable actors.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 5, 2021

H Is For Happiness has more on its mind than most kids' flicks and delivers its ideas in an attractive, if familiar, package.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 1, 2021

A strikingly cute Australian family pic that delves deeper than the pablum platitudes you might assume, given the title and cheery production values.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 25, 2020

Whatever comparison works, it's a matter of taking in a movie that dares to put a smile in the face of bullies and varying levels of adversity.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Sep 24, 2020

It's a feel good gem of a film for the entire family.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 24, 2020

Offbeat portrait of an unconventional girl is all over the place, sometimes detouring into the cringeworthy, as it tries to depict the emotional familial confusion its tween protagonist is navigating.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 22, 2020

"H is for Happiness" is a painless, inoffensive distraction.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 21, 2020

I want to be Candice Phee when I grow up.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 20, 2020

Eventually, the film's overreliance on cute eccentricities feels twee and calculated while lacking any meaningful emotional grounding.

| Sep 19, 2020

H Is For Happiness won't appeal to older teens or cynical adults, but for families with kids of the appropriate age, it's a charmer.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 18, 2020

Full of Australian color, verve and a sprinkle magical realism, this family film squeezes joy out of the darkest of moments. The script gets a bit off track, but the acting of the two young leads will warm your heart long after the credits roll.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Sep 18, 2020

Writer Lisa Hoppe and director John Sheedy create a story that transcends audiences and makes them feel like they are part of the story.

| Original Score: 8.5/10 | Sep 18, 2020

A totally entertaining movie about a young teen who models resilience, kindness, and a vibrantly happy outlook.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 17, 2020

This unusual children's film may be fussy, but to its credit, it is not frivolous.

| Sep 17, 2020

Whimsical but real at the same time. H Is For Happiness teaches the lesson that while things might not always be perfect, there is always a way to make the best of them.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 17, 2020

With a charming blend of realistic problems and whimsical preteen fantasy, the Australian film uses a child's story to send a valuable message for viewers of all ages.

| Sep 17, 2020

Silly, quirky, optimistic, colourful and buoyant, [this] will delight younger kids and offer just enough dramatic tension to ensure adults don't get too bored.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Sep 17, 2020

The helmer gets the movie most of the way there, offering a charming understanding of positive thinking from a juvenile point of view.

| Original Score: B | Sep 17, 2020