peefyn Sykt Lykkelig is not a bad movie, and even though some places market it as a movie that targets the female demographic, it's really a movie for everyone (though maybe not kids).There's several charming moments in this movie. The characters are both really nice, with their quirks and their flaws. The master/slave-games the children are playing is a good example of the dark comedy in this movie. And there's plenty of embarrassing moments in this movie, for those who like that sort of humor. And I like that the movie is set in rural Norway.But the movie never really reaches that high. The charming moments come and go, and the characters do all change throughout the movie, but when it's over, it kind of feels like it was all for nothing.It's a movie worth watching, but I can't imagine revisiting this movie much.

thedelicatebeat I knew after the first 10 minutes that it was going to be pretty much like this for the entirety of the film. Sometimes, that's a good thing. In this case, no. Unless you enjoy uncomfortable domestic situations and people who are insecure and story lines that offer no relief. I'm sorry, but it's not entertaining, for one thing - but it's also not making a grande statement. It's just not pleasurable to watch. I guess, if I would say one thing, I feel bad that very fine actors were involved in this effort, mostly because the script left them nowhere interesting to go. It's definitely not a comedy in the sense that I was hoping for. Maybe Norwegians think this is hilarious? I'm not sure. But as an American who loves mostly foreign films, this one struck me as one to put back in the DVD box before I could make it to one laugh.

Kalle_it The original title "Sykt lykkelig" is a nice pun, as "sykt" can be both positive (thus the title meaning "incredibly happy") or negative (more like "happy in a sick way").Indeed this dichotomy runs throughout the movie. Two couples live next door, but their initial attempt to establish a good neighbourhood relationship goes awry, as neither family is as picture-perfect as the facade suggests.Soon enough they find themselves in the middle of an awkward love triangle, almost turning into a double-triangle, and then shortly into partner swapping.In the end the ordeal brings every character back to square one, but with renewed, and this time hopefully complete, awareness of themselves and of their partner. So everything looks the same as before, but something has definitely changed.We're left to wonder who was "happy" and about what and when... And is it supposed to be ironic? I'm not really sure, and it's a positive thing. A movie that keeps me thinking after it's over, with no convoluted gimmicks and with no clean-cut answers is a good movie to me.Sykt lykkelig is a difficult movie to categorize... In a way it's the typical Norwegian "comedy": more awkward than funny, with a persistent serious vibe that runs through the movie but never takes over. So the movie is always enjoyable, even when it could get too heavy-handed, gloomy or sappy. Of course this minimalistic approach can be a negative aspect, depending on the viewer's taste and on his penchant for full-fledged drama or for unrelenting pretentiousness.Just to make two examples: the subplot involving the two kids, with openly racist undertones, is quite perplexing but it's an odd change of pace from the main story. And the confrontation scene between Kaja and Eirik about his "hunting trips" is a farcical tribute to Brokeback Mountain... In order not to talk openly about the topic in front of the kid they switch to a very broken German, which doesn't sound too different from Norwegian, and the key word of the whole scene is still said loud in Norwegian... So much for not upsetting the kid! If it was intentional, it was hilarious.To sum it up "Sykt lykkelig" is a somewhat odd and uneven family "comedrama", Its forte is the absence of maudlin introspection. For once we're just watching the four characters deal with their live and their choices. No preachy message is spoon-fed to us, no easy answers are given... Quite a rare occurrence in such movies.

hawksoul08 Very minimalistic view of scenery, an extremely low budget movie (at least it wasn't shot using a digital camera like TV movies). The actors play well, but everyone is down-toned like they are affected by the weather, and the only 2 times they show emotion is after a sex scene (running outside while snowing almost naked) and while a fight between the two men (awkard and disorienting fight scene by the way). Other than that, it is a bland drama mixed with drops of comedy (black) a spit of racism, an understatement of men trying to hide their homosexuality by making a family, some affairs made for revenge or from lack of affection that came from the fact a couple can't have their own kid... Boring most of the way, some interesting (yet forgettable) moments of clarity, and a boy chore band every now and then, just to highlight key spots in the movie, trying to make us smile (not laugh). Bland movie that I will forget in less than a week... Could be better, could be worse... Avoid if you are sleepy, or having something better to watch or do... You will not lose your time, but you will not gain anything either... It is better than seeing commercials, or a soap opera, but that's about it... Nothing special, nothing good or bad... :P