When David Weathersby (Joe Boyd) loses his job, his roommate and best friend, Ben, takes action.
Standing behind the beautiful, Australian, yoga instructor Joyce Heller (Rebecca St. James), at Starbucks, Ben (Benjamin Keller) takes her business card out of the “Free lattes for your office” basket. After seeing her job description as Life Coach, he sets up an appointment for David to meet her.
After their awkward meeting, Joyce takes David on as a client, and their relationship develops at the steady pace one would imagine when two adults like each other, but neither are willing to make a serious move.
Joyce encourages David to volunteer with her at the Evergreen nursing home, but little does he expect to come face-to-face with William (Hunter Shepard), his former boss with the cool hair who fired him in front of a co-worker stuffing his face with the party sub.
Brad Wise, Director and Writer of the film, A Strange Brand of Happy ; Photo Courtesy of Rebel Pilgrim Productions
The love triangle now complete, William and David compete for Joyce’s affections, while the all-too-eager-for-drama nursing home residents, including sassy Mildred (Shirley James) give advice and a hard time to both young men.
In an effort to impress Joyce, and keep David from spending so much time with her, William manages to get David his job. But clever William didn’t stop there.
David’s new job keeps him from volunteering on Saturday mornings, so he brings gifts to work. Joyce is deleted with the storybook notepads. Flip the papers quickly, and the pictures come to life.
While it seems that William’s plan has backfired, the next day, David gets hit with a shocking blow that could make him lose everything…and everyone…that he cares about.
Joe Boyd as David Weathersby in A Strange Brand of Happy ;Photo Courtesy of Rebel Pilgrim Productions
A Strange Brand of Happy is an endearing film with questions about God and life deliberately strewn throughout. William asks questions like, “Does God have all the answers? What does He have to say about me losing my job?” and wondering what people mean when they say “When God shuts a door, He opens a window.”
Joyce’s faith is unwavering. She unapologetically believes in God’s love for her, and His desire for her to use the gifts He’s given her. Cooking for the residents in the nursing home brings her joy, and Joyce sees it as a way to honor God.
David’s ability to draw is evident from the beginning of the film, but the subplot of using the gifts that God gives is woven quietly throughout.
The cast having fun on the set of A Strange Brand of Happy ; Photo Courtesy of Rebel Pilgrim Productions
One of the refreshing qualities of this film is that the questions and comments about God, who He is, and His plan, are all so extremely genuine.
There aren’t characters spouting off “the answers.” Instead, the characters admit to not understanding everything. Joyce says she’s still trying to figure it all out, which makes her character more lovable.
All in all, A Strange Brand of Happy is a decent film. You’re able to get caught up in the story line, and you’re rooting for David all the way.
The only negative to the movie would be that David’s character seems a little old to still need the advice he’s given, and to be going through a few of the issues he’s dealing with. The same goes for roommate Ben, who gives his age as 35.
However, if you can look beyond their ages, you’ll find great characters, a decent story line, and many perspectives on God and His love for us. You’ll enjoy this one.
Rebecca St. James as Joyce Heller and Joe Boyd as David Weathersby in A Strange Brand of Happy; Photo Courtesy of Rebel Pilgrim Productions
The Biblical Worldview
A Strange Brand of Happy is film about a man trying to figure out what life’s about after his job is taken from him with no real explanation.
There is not much in the film that would keep a child, or perhaps even a teenager, entertained, but for adults who’ve gone through the nine-to-five grind, there will be some appeal.
The language is extremely mild, with no cussing or taking the Lord’s name in vain. At one point, David calls William a “Segway-riding-d-bag.”
David’s neighbor and landlord, Terry (Bekka Prewitt), has a crush on David, and one night after he’s been drinking, he comes on to her, asking her what she uses to scrub in the shower with and what will she wear after she takes a shower.
A production shot of Rebecca St. James as Joyce Heller in A Strange Brand of Happy; Photo Courtesy of Rebel Pilgrim Productions
She is seen in a towel, after the shower, and her outfits consist of two kinds of “nightwear” – short pajama shorts or a little black dress.
More than one reference is made to how Joyce looks in spandex, or yoga pants, and after Terry returns from a run in tight running gear, David watches her walk into her apartment.
One scene, which was a bit confusing, was when David and Joyce are on an unofficial date, or outing, and he stops in front of a lingerie store and makes eyes at her.
It didn’t make much sense in the film, and it’s not clear why it was needed at all to move the story forward.
There is drinking in the movie, as this is David’s go-to pastime when fired from his job. He loves champagne, and is drunk in more than one scene. However, he is not a sloppy drunk, and seems to be more overly tipsy than completely wasted.
Marty Ingels as Mack and Shirley Jones as Mildred in A Strange Brand of Happy; Photo Courtesy of Rebel Pilgrim Productions
The Biblical Discussion
A beautiful theme in A Strange Brand of Happy is that we should use the gifts that God has given us, and that it makes God happy when we use them.
1 Peter 4:10 says “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
Joyce enjoys cooking, and she sees serving in the nursing home as a way to use her gift for others. Similarly, David is encouraged to forget about trying to get his job back, as it wasn’t utilizing his gift for drawing.
Early in the film, David asks Joyce and her friend what they would do if a guy, the opposite of a terrorist, walked into the bar wearing a vest full of gold bricks that were worth more money than they could imagine, and threw one of the bricks to them. While her friend said she’d spend time on a yacht, Joyce said she’d like to open a small restaurant.
“You don’t have to work,” David says. And Joyce replies that it wouldn’t feel like work, because she loves to cook.
What would you do if you were thrown a gold brick worth more money than you can image?
What talents, gifts, or abilities has God blessed you with?
How are you using your gifts to serve others?
Do you want to read another review by SCH movie critic, Bethany Jett? Read the latest on Percy Jackson Sea of Monsters
Click here to learn more about A Strange Brand of Happy
Find more about the author at www.BethanyJett.com.
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