Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes feature in the 2023 American romance comedy Happiness for Beginners, which is based on the same-titled Katherine Center novel from 2015. Vicky Wight adapted the book for the big screen and handled the helm.
After her marriage has ended, Helen (Kemper) enrolls in a course on how to survive on the Appalachian Trail, where she meets Jake (Grimes), a friend of her younger brother.
The film was released on July 27, 2023 through Netflix.
PLOT
Divorcée In order to give her younger brother Duncan the keys to her home while she is away, Helen enrolls herself in a “beginners” Appalachian Trail survivalist course the night before she leaves. She encounters Jake, his best buddy for life, rather than him.
Since they haven’t spoken in over a year, Mike, Helen’s ex, calls to remind her that their wedding was exactly six years ago. She remembers him and Duncan during the wedding, how she didn’t like it, and how awkward Mike was. Jake is taken aback by the call. Helen disregards it and gives Jake her keys.
On her way from Pittsburgh, Helen stops by to visit Gigi, the grandmother who had raised them. The teenage guide Beckett gives them a summary of the hiking expedition the following morning while they are still staying in the chosen Connecticut motel. When everyone introduces herself, Helen, who is around 30 years old, learns that Jake is also joining them and that she is one of the oldest participants.
After failing to convince Jake to leave, Helen confronts him and orders him to keep his relationship with her private. Helen manages to gash her leg on a boulder the next morning, not long after the bus leaves the group off at the beginning of the 50-mile journey. As the appointed EMT, Jake attends to her wound while calling her last divorcee a “dipshit.”
After a short while of traveling, Helen is reprimanded for stepping on a log—one of several regulations she was supposed to have understood earlier. To defend them and their food, Beckett demonstrates how to erect a bear hang.
Happiness for Beginners Official Trailer
CAST
Ellie Kemper as Helen
Luke Grimes as Jake
Nico Santos as Hugh
Blythe Danner as Gigi
Ben Cook as Beckett
Shayvawn Webster as Windy
Esteban Benito as Mason
Gus Birney as Kaylee
Julia Shiplett as Sue
Alexander Koch as Duncan
