80
A camp musical-comedy hoot. It comes on like an outrageous episode of "The Simpsons" or "South Park."
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
50
The New York Times by Dave Kehr
It's all very zany. Occasionally it is even madcap. You would almost be tempted to smile at times, albeit weakly, if it weren't for Mr. Miike's habit of pounding home every joke with exaggerated reaction shots.
50
An unexpected departure off the map, flinging together elements of Alpine musical, ghoulish Jan Svankmajer-style claymation and a family portrait so hokey it makes the Brady Bunch look hip.
75
If there's one image that sums up the filmmaking style of Takashi Miike, it's the close-up of a bubbling hot pot on the family dinner table.
50
San Francisco Chronicle by Jonathan Curiel
Occasionally, this film is funny and cute. When the family's little girl narrates, it reaches a level of humor that is ironic and endearing.
70
Grisly, yes, but it's all done in fun; having tried his hardest to shock audiences with his previous films, it now appears Miike simply wants to entertain, and he pulls out all the stops.
40
Los Angeles Times by Kevin Thomas
Long-winded and ultimately uninvolving.
50
It's an amusing scenario, until even Miike seems to lose his taste for the oddly sweet concoction and allows the film to drift aimlessly to a rainbow-hued finale.
80
A joyously demented musical-comedy built on a macabre foundation, like "The Sound Of Music" with a kickline of corpses.
83
Seattle Post-Intelligencer by Sean Axmaker
The biggest surprise for Miike fans and musical lovers alike is that for all the black humor of this deliriously bizarre fantasy "Happiness" is a warmhearted film about sacrifice, support and four generations of family togetherness.