There's a quirk and curiosity to it to some extent, but I feel it meanders too simply and too aimlessly.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 17, 2024

Although not an entirely successful movie, 'Happy Christmas' is a giant leap forward for Swanberg.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Nov 17, 2021

Loosely crafted story works and has an easy natural flow ... shooting on 16mm, Ben Richardson's cinematography is textured with a 70's cinematic feel.

| Dec 14, 2019

A personal, hilarious and well-made work of art piped straight to me on my couch; if that's the form that the rescue of the modern film comedy is going to take, I refuse to complain.

| Nov 5, 2019

[D]espite the excellent characters, the results are underwhelming.

| Nov 5, 2019

If you need a Christmas film with more heart and less schmaltz, this could be the right choice.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 5, 2019

Happy Christmas is a simple and sobering affair that calls into question the roles of women and the choices contemporary society expects them to make, be they vocational or familial.

| Nov 5, 2019

A film about two women? Who aren't embroiled in a bitter rivalry over a man? Who actually, like, TALK to each other and support each other ... NO WAY. WHAT.

| Mar 2, 2019

There's a reason this movie, with its very generic title, has managed to stay under the radar.

| Dec 11, 2018

The gift-giving in Happy Christmas is predicated upon breezy disillusionment, personal and professional malaise, and the underscoring of being unfulfilled. Alas, Happy Christmas certainly will not leave any unwanted coal in your holiday stocking.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 8, 2018

The performances all round have a slightly improvised vibe, with Lynskey and Girls creator Lena Dunham (as an old friend of Jenny's) especially finding the groove where a little roughness around the edges only serves to enhance the charm.

| Nov 8, 2018

As a whole, Happy Christmas is a lighthearted film whose existence will be recognized by fans of Swanberg, but most likely overlooked by the rest.

| Nov 8, 2018

Whether or not realism is your "thing," Happy Christmas still serves as a great palate-cleanser in the midst of summer's usual set of explosions, superheroes...and space raccoons.

| Jun 23, 2017

If you're looking for a movie with complex female characters exploring female friendship -- and of course you are! -- Happy Christmas is definitely worth seeing.

| Oct 5, 2016

Swanberg's let-the-camera-run aesthetic can go either way - towards self-indulgence, or overheard, naturalistic candor. Thanks in no small part to the considerable gifts of his cast, 'Happy Christmas' goes the right way.

| Jun 18, 2016

Anna Kendrick as a floundering, career-clueless, alcoholic, irresponsible moocher? Just no. She manages to make it work, sort of. Kendrick's magnetic, whatever she attempts.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 13, 2016

Swanberg has become the foremost chronicler of a generation's belly-button lint without once having demonstrated even the slightest interest in learning how to make a movie.

| Jun 9, 2015

Two-year-old Jude Swanberg -- a ham as chubby as a sausage -- deserves at least a few Best Supporting Actor votes.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 18, 2014

The writing and acting are solid. It isn't a particularly ambitious or groundbreaking film, but it is fun. It is nice to see Anna Kendrick turn it loose in this movie.

| Original Score: B | Dec 9, 2014

Swanberg's naturalistic, improvised style lets the conflict come about organically, repeatedly putting the characters in situations to which they could react with clichés but instead go with something more empathetic and nuanced.

| Original Score: B | Dec 2, 2014