Hector and the Search for Happiness
Hector and the Search for Happinessincludes laughs and relatable drama but struggles to find successful balance between engaging journeys and thought-provoking destinations.
InHector and the Search for Happiness , Simon Pegg play the titulary persona - a shrink who come to substantiate that his pattern and unimaginative life story has not equipped him to advise others on amend their genial wellness . Inexperienced with the outside world , Hector decides the only style to serve his patients ( and himself ) is to go around the humankind on a journey of self - uncovering - in the hopes of finding the keys to happiness .
However , for put his daily routine behind him and venture out into the world , Hector must leave behind his loving lady friend Clara ( Rosamund Pike ) , who is n’t quite prepared for just how far her better half will go in his quest . It ’s a quest that will take Hector around the globe and face - to - face with monks , productive business man , psychological science expert , and friends from his own past times - who all have their own stories to narrate and versions of felicity to share .
Directed by Peter Chelsom ( Serendipity),Hector and the Search for Happinessis based on the 2002 novel , Le voyage d’Hector ou la recherche du bonheurfrom Gallic author and psychiatrist François Lelord . Much like the book , the film aims to be a light - hearted and uplifting news report of self - breakthrough - rather than a ironic and academic facial expression at the psychology of human happiness . At times , Chelsom ’s film simply tries to do too much : walk a ok billet between philia - warm dramatic event and authentic human struggle - all while lend collation - sized lessons as Hector tries to add up up his experience .
To that closing the film works as an intoxicate fib with a likable lead character and an interesting variety of supporting instrumentalist . Still , for viewers who have seen taradiddle of pent-up booster journeying out into the world to ascertain enlightenment , Hector and the Search for Happinessisn’t a peculiarly fresh take on the premise . It ’s an enjoyable and on occasion call up - kindle film but does little to specialize itself from an otherwise intimate formatting .
It ’s a white assumption : a man that attempts to advise people on happiness and breaking out of insalubrious cycles - even though he is also stuck in a estrus , incapable of find ( or embracing ) happiness in his own lifespan . Nevertheless , in venom of some insightful interactions , as well as one downright terrify face-off , Hector and the Search for Happinessis too white - particularly for a film about the mess of life . Side characters stray from on - the - nose examples of lesson to be get word to pernicious opportunities for rumination on human happiness and the many room it can manifest . As a resultant role , the story ( and Hector as a character ) is mostly navigating a series of disjunct plot points , and subsequent living - lesson , without build to anything peculiarly profound or all that moving . Hector grows in his journey - but it ’s unlikely that many audiences penis will be particularly touch or instigate by what he learns along the way .
To his credit , Pegg is solid as Hector - convey a range of emotions befitting of a homo that is push up into varied situations with an equally diverse range of international characters . While many witness are likely well - familiar with Pegg ’s quirky funniness use , his work inHector and the Search for Happinessrequires both a vulnerability and sensibility that should win - over some skeptics - even if the functioning is n’t notable enough for awards season care . Of course , that ’s not to say that Pegg is too serious either - Chelsom also provide many oddball here and now that take advantage of the player ’s clowning repertory .
Supporting instrumentalist are evenly strong - with a fun set of brief but still fascinate appearances from Jean Reno , Toni Collette , Stellan Skarsgård , and Christopher Plummer , among other notable names . Most of the more familiar actors are play within character - molding ( Skarsgård is a rich businessman and Reno is a short - tempered drug mogul ) but a few lesser - known performer , Ming Zhao and Chantel Herman , peculiarly are creditworthy for some of the film ( and Hector ’s ) most penetrative moments .
in conclusion , Pike does her best as Clara - though Chelsom does a misfortunate caper of providing the case definition beyond her family relationship with Hector . Clara is successful and well - liked , but amidst a flurry of becharm worldly encounters , the movie but does not arise her beyond a cog in the larger story - embodying the safe spirit that Hector has created back home . In the opening moments , the movie presents Clara as full of liveliness , beautiful and caring , but once Hector run a risk aside , she is quickly bound to a shadowy outline - either as a clingy and desperate enabler or an under - appreciated dupe of the titulary fiber ’s lack of life story experience . Given Pike ’s previous work , it ’s intemperate to suppose that , at least on the original script page , Clara was ever mean to be as bland as the respite of Hector ’s life .
Hector and the Search for Happinesschecks every box necessary for a whole story of self - authorisation : the performances are strong , the characters are interesting , and the moving-picture show presents some worthwhile commentary on where we each find felicity in life story . Yet , in spite of its specialty , Chelsom ’s film miss the invention and risk - taking necessary to speciate Hector ’s tale from standardized tarradiddle that preceded it . In the death , Hector and the Search for Happinessincludes laugh and relatable play but struggles to detect successful rest between affiance journeys and thought - plague destinations .
Simon Pegg as Hector in ‘Hector and the Search for Happiness’
TRAILER
Hector and the Search for Happinessruns 120 minutes and is Rated R for linguistic communication and some abbreviated nudity .
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Rosamund Pike as Clara in ‘Hector and the Search for Happiness’
Hector And The Search For Happiness abide by Hector , a quirky shrink who embark on a global journey to uncover the secrets of dependable felicity . lead by Peter Chelsom and star Simon Pegg , the motion picture research theme of personal fulfillment and the complexities of human emotion .
Simon Pegg in ‘Hector and the Search for Happiness’
Jean Reno as Diego in ‘Hector and the Search for Happiness’
