Dysfunctional familiesare fertile ground for Hollywood filmsbecause people all over the world can easily relate to the theme. The latest entry in the genre isAll Happy Families, a drama/comedy that starsJosh Radnor(How I Met Your Mother) as a down-on-his-luck actor who suddenly finds himself confronting all the resentments he has towards his family. The movie had early screenings at theChicago International Film Festival, and Freestyle Digital Media has teamed up with Collider to exclusively debut its first trailer.
The trailer forAll Happy Familiesinvites us into the home of the Landrys — more specifically, a messy childhood home that’s in dire need of a fix-up because the family wants to rent it out. This means that the father, mother, and their twocompetitive childrenwill reunite for a weekend to get everything sorted out. Butfixing up the housewill be the least of their problems when they have so many past events bottled up inside and wanting to come out.
Aside from Radnor, the cast ofAll Happy Familiesalso featuresBecky Ann Baker(Ted Lasso),Rob Huebel(Curb Your Enthusiasm),Chandra Russell(South Side),John Ashton(Beverly Hills Coptrilogy),Ivy O’Brien(Manchester By The Sea) andAntoine McKay(Empire).
Who Is Behind ‘All Happy Families’?
All Happy Familiesis directed byHaroula Rose, who previously directed film festival sensationOnce Upon a River. She also helped produce acclaimed movies likeFruitvale StationandHeaven Adores You. She co-wroteAll Happy FamilieswithCoburn Goss, who is best known for his work as an actor. He starred inWidows,Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, andChicago Fire.
In an official statement, Rose revealed how the idea forAll Happy Familiescame up and what she hopes to achieve with the dramedy:
“When my co-writer Coburn Goss and I met makingOnce Upon A River, I had cast himin a villainous role that he brought forth with complexity and humanity. Iimmediately had a sense that we should take a crack at writing something together. Inour conversations it became apparent that we had a shared interest in makingsomething relatable and funny about modern family life. We began asking questions like: what does masculinity look like up close, and what are the subtle ways toxic masculinity can permeate our lives? Can people change, and how can it happen in a real and grounded way on film? Do late bloomers stand a chance?
Coburn had a chance to really hone in on these characters and explore what they needed to come alive and be relevant in this cultural moment. The Landrys contain archetypes we can all relate to in their closeness, love, and complicated drama. I find that in my own life, even in moments of stress or tragedy, there is comedy as well. Humor has a way of pointing out human truths that we often want to hide.”
All Happy Familieswill be in theaters on September 20, and on digital on demand October 18. You can check out our exclusive trailer above and advance tickets are on sale now at AMC theaters.
