We're Happy ... Aren't we?

Rating: 3/10 (4 December 2004)

Greetings again from the darkness. Surprisingly little good to be said about the horrible film from highly acclaimed director Mike Nichols ("The Graduate" HBO's "Angels in America", "Working Girl"). Known for his ability to capture human nature, often with comic overtures, Nichols fails to deliver either in this psychotic, twisted film that watches like a play and conjures up memories of the unlikable folks from Nichols "Carnal Knowledge".
The topic is sex and love and the talk is more than frank ... it is presented to shock. This is not your normal Julia Roberts movie, which should be a good thing, but isn't. Jude Law plays a sniveling little wimp and Clive Owen ("King Arthur") is a conniving 'cave man' (his character's words). The only actor who delivers any substance at all is Natalie Portman in her scene at the airport hotel towards the end. Trust me when I tell you, don't see this one with your mom or your kids ... and best to avoid it altogether.