I knew HAPPY HOUR since very long because it stars also Eric Stoltz and during these months I decided to watch most of his available movies because despite he has never been recognized as an A-lister I really like him and I also think that he is very underrated. And as usual, here he didn't disappoint, but he wasn't the only reason.
Tulley (Anthony LaPaglia) is a washed up writer that has seen better days but now he left his wife and has the writer's block thanks also to his alcohol problems. The only one who knows that Tulley can change is his best and only friend Levine (Stoltz) and in fact when Levine goes to Tulley's and notices lots of bottles in the kitchen sink he suddenly understands while Tulley denies and says he had been helped by a friend. So Natalie and Levine will do their best to make Tulley stop drinking since he is risking death but as he dies, Tulley's voice over explains that his soul was travelling in New York and probably was among the flying pigeons... whimsical, isn't it?
When you think of movies about alcoholism you mostly think of depressing stories. HAPPY HOUR, while certainly having a sad background, isn't depressing because the acting was great and there were various hilarious moments like two of the aforementioned ones. And not only the acting by LaPaglia and Stoltz was great, but the ending made me both sad and happy: you see, despite Tulley died from complications of his drinking problem, dying he freed himself from his chronical issue.
While this isn't certainly a remembered movie (only 6 reviews as I am writing this), if you are into forgotten movies like me you can give this a try.
