never fleshes any of its characters out beyond bare simplicity

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 7, 2006

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

An unhappy hour-and-a-half.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Dec 17, 2004

The premise of the ever-soused movie is solid, too bad the execution is anything but.

| Original Score: C+ | Nov 19, 2004

In a world with so many problems, it's hard to drum up any sympathy for these characters' profligate self-destruction.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Nov 4, 2004

First-time writer-director Mike Bencivenga and co-writer Richard Levine have a flair for brittle repartee, and an obvious affection for literate drunks, but their take on the drinking life feels antiquated and movie-derived.

| Nov 4, 2004

Drama of a self-destructive, boozing New York ad man would reek of cliche were it not for a virtuosic performance from Anthony LaPaglia, who still fails to make this small film big.

Full Review | Nov 2, 2004

Happy Hour is strictly college-level compost, content with its mediocrity, if not wholly unaware of it.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Oct 29, 2004

Nothing especially new, but a well-acted chamber piece about a self-destructive writer.

| Original Score: B- | Oct 24, 2004

Sharply written, flawlessly acted.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 22, 2004

If only its characters weren't such stereotypes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 22, 2004

What you'll remember most about the movie is its banal script and dialogue so ripe it almost laughs at itself.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Oct 22, 2004

Provides enough tragi-comedy to make the viewer feel like drowning their own sorrows... while laughing to lift their spirits.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 21, 2004

The characters in Happy Hour are stick figures from a musty old teleplay that might be titled The Days of Wine and Malarkey.

| Original Score: 1.5/5 | Oct 21, 2004

Collectively, the result is a familiar film off the beaten path.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 21, 2004

Once the story takes its big turn toward tragedy, though, it becomes predictable and sentimental.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 21, 2004

Strain credulity. Shake until sudsy. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or Eric Stoltz. Serve chilled, straight up.

| Oct 19, 2004

This is the kind of tripe that wouldn't get past a junior editor at a publishing house.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Oct 19, 2004

A small film, a tiny cast, a labor of love with a minuscule budget that shows in the poor lighting and even worse sound quality. That it was made is the thing to be applauded.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 24, 2004

Director Mike Bencivenga has reinvented the alcoholic romantic dramedy and Leading Actor Anthony LaPaglia has redefined the cinematic soak. A beautiful piece of work.

| Original Score: 9/10 | Jun 2, 2004