H is for Happiness Review- a Different Kind of Parent Trap

H is for Happiness review and H is for Happiness Discussion Questions written by the Elf on 9/12/2020 This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog. Thanks to K2 Publicity for the review copy of the film, which did not impact our review. Our opinions are our own, movie images from the movie press kit.

Know Before You Stream H is for Happiness:

Movie: H is for Happiness
Age Suggestion:  10+ for mature content
Running Time: 2 hours
Release Date: US Release September 18th, 2020
(February 6th, 2019- Australia)
Genre: Family Comedy and Drama
Themes: Family, School, Traumatic Death, Middle School Relationships, Bullying, Special Needs, Comedy
Warnings: There’s a lot of depth and intensity in this little comedy. Parents should be aware that a traumatic SIDS death is focused on a lot, pre-teen relationships/ kissing, plus parents arguing and yelling are also a main feature. Be aware that some scenes discuss puberty and deal with anatomy. There’s also a lot of bullying- especially around special needs, and a fair amount of light language. It’s still a great family watch that we recommend.
Where to Watch It: Rent or buy to stream here on Prime Video and here on Google Play.

Keep reading for our H is for Happiness Review, Summary and Discussion Questions!

Quick Summary of H Is for Happiness

It’s a new kind of Parent Trap!
Candice does not fit in with the other kids, she’s very literal and loves school. People call her odd. Douglas is also odd. Meeting him inspires her to try something miraculous- to reunite her grieving family and get her parents back together. A huge adventure that starts with meeting the new kid and getting a new homework assignment! This is a cute family comedy!

Based on the popular Australian YA Book- My Life as an Alphabet (released in the US as The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee). It’s a great movie/book combo for 10+! A dramedy with a lot of heart!

H is for Happiness Discussion Questions: 

1) What was the funniest part of the movie to you?

2) It’s easy to say that we need to be nice to everyone, but a lot harder when there is peer pressure to not be nice to someone that’s different. What are some practical ways you can be kind, especially when other people are not?

3) What did Candice discover about her biggest bully? What did you think about how Candice reacted towards her and treated her?

4) In the movie, we see how grief impacts people in different ways. What do you think was the most loving and helpful thing done in the movie for the grieving family?

5) What letter of the alphabet would you have picked for the project? What would you have said?

H is for Happiness Review: 

**SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT**

-Characters & Acting:

We were especially impressed with the child actresses and actors. They really did a fabulous job of making believable characters. The characters were all very relatable!

You really empathized with Candice throughout the movie. She was a well written character. I also really enjoyed the teacher and the rich uncle- really, really fun pieces of the story.

–Is it Appropriate?

There were definitely some moments that would not have been appropriate for a younger audience. For instance, Candice receives and uses a blow up bra. The kids are seen kissing each other several times. There’s a lot of deep grief, intense adult arguing and depression shown, particularly with the mother. The scene that sticks out the most as one for a more intense audience is the one where Candice discovers that her little sister has died. Otherwise, the movie is your pretty typical family comedy. Some intense spots, but a great and fun family watch overall. We recommend for ages 10+.

-Script & Story:

We have not read the book yet, so we can’t testify to whether or not the book was translated well into the movie or not. However, we really enjoyed the story. The premise is so unique and fun- who would have thought that an adventure of a lifetime could have started with a new homework assignment.

We appreciated the depth and the realness of grieving that was portrayed. Every character had plenty of flaws, but also plenty of heart! As a teacher my favorite scene was the comparison of Candice and her Bully. They both had some serious life trauma but one had adults that loved her and one was largely ignored by adults. Reminds us all that investing in our kids and in others children is vital. H is for Happiness would make a great family movie night pick. Our favorite scenes were the ones with the uncle! Such a good and fun story!

–What to check out next:

If you enjoyed our H is for Happiness review-
Check out these posts for family movie night too!

-Who better to best a secret agent than a kid?! My Spy review and discussion questions

– Can you accept hope and help? All Together Now review and discussion questions

-Wait, Mom’s a ninja?! The Sleepover parent review and discussion questions

-Everyone needs a little magic! Magic Camp review and discussion questions!

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