Watch Welcome To Happiness

WELCOME TO HAPPINESS is a 2015 independent fantasy drama film, directed by Oliver Thompson and starring Kyle Gallner, Olivia Thirlby, and Nick Offerman. The movie follows the story of Woody Ward (Gallner), a reclusive and eccentric children's author who lives in a mysterious apartment building that houses a door leading to a magical past. Woody's life changes when a suicidal young woman named Karen (Thirlby) moves into his building and asks him to let her through this special door.

The story starts with Woody being an author, writing stories for children that he never intends to complete. He seemingly lives a mundane and lonely life until he meets a precocious, red-headed girl named Lily (Molly C. Quinn), who arrives at his doorstep asking for help with a book report. After Woody gives her some of his unfinished stories, she tells him that she is writing a report on a book he's never heard of: "Welcome to Happiness." He's unsure but intrigued, and their meeting leads him to confront the past he's been running away from and explore the possibility that maybe, just maybe, his stories might have real-life applications.

Through a series of events, Woody meets Karen, who desperately wants to enter the door in Woody's apartment that leads to a world where you can change the past. Karen's dark and disturbing background intrigues Woody, and against his better judgment, he lets her into the door. What follows is a journey of self-discovery where Woody must confront his past and present, and come to terms with his fears, hopes, and belief in the impossible.

As Woody grapples with his own issues, he is drawn into the lives of the other residents of his building, including a man who happily lives in a closet, a family that deals in mystery, Karen's suicidal boss Moses (Offerman), and a mysterious detective named Nyles (Brendan Sexton III).

The film stands out from other fantasy movies in that it doesn't rely on grand special effects, high concepts, or grandiose battle scenes. Instead, it relies on the power of storytelling, with a script that's witty, clever, and at times, poignant. The film is able to capture the wonder and whimsy of childhood while dealing with more mature themes, providing a nice balance between reality and fantasy.

The movie is heavy on character development, and the performances of the cast are impressive. Gallner as Woody is an idealistic dreamer who learns to accept his own limitations and aspirations, while Thirlby as Karen is a complex and enigmatic character whom the audience can't help but root for. Offerman as Moses is surprisingly humorous despite his character's depressing circumstances, and Quinn as Lily gives a charming and captivating performance.

Overall, WELCOME TO HAPPINESS is a gem of a movie that showcases the power of storytelling and the strength of a talented cast. The film delivers an imaginative and thought-provoking story that will leave audiences both entertained and inspired.

Welcome To Happiness is a 2016 fantasy movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 29.