HECTOR AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS (2014)

Genre: Adventure/Drama
Running Length: 1:54
Cast: Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Stellan Skarsgard, Ming Zhao, Barry Atsma, Jean Reno, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer
Director: Peter Chelsom
Screenplay: Maria von Heland and Peter Chelsom & Tinker Lindsay, based on the novel by Fracois Lelord

"We should concern ourselves not so much with the pursuit of happiness but rather with the happiness of pursuit." a quote from this movie. 

Although HECTOR AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS shares a similar theme as Walter Mitty; a middle-aged man who lives a routine life reaches a mid-life crisis and thus, spurring him to go on an international journey to understand the meaning of life/happiness, this movie goes into darker territory than Mitty ever would have dared venture. Those who are familiar with Simon Pegg's movies may not be totally surprised that he can be taken seriously on screen, but as Hector, his work here is a revelation. There are some funny moments here and there but he generally plays it down - especially the very believable emotional last scene which was truly affecting. Although his search leads him to a mixed bag of adventure, the deliverables to viewers are a little uneven. This is no Indiana Jones or even Tintin. Some encounters worked but most of them felt somewhat cliché. Nevertheless, this film works nicely as a character piece.  

Rating: 6.5/10