Tying disparate stories together, mostly told through casual conversation, the film avoids feeling episodic. Through the witty dialogue we get some genuinely amusing insights into the characters, from a daughter’s Karaoke recital to the desperately depressingly sister named “Joy” (played with mousey perfection by Shirley Henderson). And kudos to Paul Reubens for his scene stealing phantasmagoric creepiness.
This is a talky piece, sure, and scenes mirror almost exactly those found in Happiness, making this a kindred film, if not a direct sequel. As such, it’s not nearly as hard hitting as the previous film, and as such isn’t nearly as successful. Still, it’s a pleasure to watch, yet is perhaps too weird for a casual filmgoer, too slight for the hardcore fans of Solondz.