HAPPY AS LARRY– An Ode to the Quiet Struggles We Carry
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Directed by: Hugo Andre
Starring: Calvin Crawley, Kevin Walls, Hugo Andre
Release Date: TBD (Premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival April 2025)
Platform: TBD
Rating: 4/5
By Crystal Justine
“A reminder that even at our darkest, connection can find us in the most unexpected ways.”
Premiering at the Dallas International Film Festival, HAPPY AS LARRY is a beautifully bittersweet tale that walks the tightrope between despair and delight — and does so with remarkable poise. Written and directed by Hugo Andre (who also steps in front of the camera), this film is as quietly impactful as it is charming, and it rightfully took home the Audience Award for Best International Feature.
The story follows Larry (Calvin Crawley), a novelist disillusioned with the monotony of his own life. Larry is a man who can write vivid, imaginative stories, yet can’t seem to find any spark in his day-to-day existence. With a grim plan for a final farewell, he sets off to the breathtaking Isle of Skye for what he believes will be his last adventure. But life, as always, has other plans. Enter Dale (Kevin Walls), an uninvited companion who disrupts Larry’s perfectly controlled final chapter with relentless (and often awkward) sincerity.
Despite its weighty premise of suicide, loneliness, and creative burnout, HAPPY AS LARRY handles these themes with both respect and surprising levity. The humor is never forced. It comes from genuine and sometimes weird human interactions, making the laughs feel earned and the heartache even more poignant. The chemistry between Crawley and Walls is magically awkward, sincere, and utterly believable. You feel like you’re watching real people stumble into something unexpectedly meaningful.
What makes the film work so well is its balance. The pacing is gentle but never sluggish. The cinematography lets the Scottish landscapes breathe, serving as both a visual escape and an emotional mirror to Larry’s internal journey. The writing is sharp, grounded, and laced with the kind of existential humor that sneaks up on you and hits you in the gut.
This is not a flashy film. It’s not loud or over-stylized, and that’s its greatest strength. It’s a small story told with big heart—a reminder that even at our darkest, connection can find us in the most unexpected ways.
HAPPY AS LARRY is a quiet triumph. It leaves you reflecting on the life you live, the stories you tell yourself, and the people you never saw coming. Hugo Andre and his team have created something genuinely special. This is a film that will stick with you.
