Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

Touches You

Good movie but grossly overrated

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

This movie it gave me every thing I need, it made me smile, laugh, have tears in my eyes, scared and worried its a prescription to cure and became just smily..its a good movie and the director you will see his marks its well directed film, and Simon Pegg thank you sir ! Go watch it, and have a nice day and nice life

Don't get me wrong, there were bits in this movie that were well done, but a lot of it rang hollow. Toni Collette's tear-down of Hector was good (but not much else about her character), Rosamund Pike's warmth, some other details, but then there was this creeping edge of ad agency feel good that undermined any real heart to the movie. He went to China not Tibet? He stays at the Marriott? Travels First Class, his paid for call girl takes him to a street cafe in a poor area? Why? A lot of it didn't add up but looked good for the camera. Some of the scenes were acted well and some of them rang very hollow. Ultimately for the subject the of honest happiness the shallow result left a bad taste.

Simon Pegg is the titular Hector, a psychiatrist stuck in a pleasant rut, living a comfortable life in a beautiful apartment with hot girlfriend Clara (Pike), but still feeling inadequate to treat his patients.Hector decides to start a classic physical and metaphysical journey to discover what makes people happy. He leaves behind a shaky relationship and flies to China for some encounters with rich people and all that money can buy, followed by the inevitable meeting with a Buddhist monk.More traveling to Africa and Los Angeles brings Hector in contact with two old friends, both living happily, following their chosen path. Rather predictably Hector discovers that you could avoid going around the world searching for happiness, because it is not in the destination but in the pursuit. Also, that you'd better try to be happy in the moment because you don't know how long you have.Despite the oversimplified message, Pegg does a great job as Hector, playing his role with sensitivity. The scene with the terminal patient is particularly moving and not manipulative. I also liked the non excessive use of the notebook and Hector's childhood memories as visual complement.A remark about the Chinese "student": Hector is slightly naive and men tend to overestimate their attractiveness, but it is strange that Hector did not consider other motivations for the girl to join him in his room. Also, the gay angle felt sort of contrived. Otherwise, a perfect feel-good movie.

Hector & The Search For Happiness is not a standard comedy or drama. I early found my self laughing but i found myself doing much more then that. This movie is about self discovery of a man who's job is to assist his clients in overcoming the worst in their lives but he is unable to assist because he has never experienced emotions like his clients are dealing with. He heads out on a journey that spans multiple countries and puts him in some of the most amazing locations where he has learned how to feel the basic emotions that so many people feel each day. This movie is one of those movies that allows you to feel all the emotions that the main character feels from sadness, fear to happiness. I would highly recommend watching this movie and maybe you will discover something about yourself.