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Cast: Lucy Liu, Michael C. Hall, Chris Messina, Brie Larson, Peter Fonda
Meet 35-year-old Morris Bliss. He is clamped in the jaws of New York City inertia: he wants to travel but has no money; he needs a job but has no prospects; he still shares an apartment with his widowed father (Peter Fonda); and, perhaps worst of all, the premature death of his mother still lingers and has left him emotionally walled up. When he finds himself wrapped up in an awkward relationship with the sexually precocious, 18-year-old daughter (Brie Larson) of a former classmate, Morris quickly discovers his static life unraveling and opening up in ways that are long overdue.
Morris Bliss, a thirtysomething man-boy slacker still living at his childhood home with his dad. He does want to travel but deep down he knows that will never happen, he can't even shop for groceries the right way even when his father is flipping the bill. To top it all off he is having a relationship with 18-year-old, Stephanie and it seems to be leading to a show down with her father, Jetski. Jetski happens to be Morris’s long-lost best friend from high school.
The story line is certainly different, some might even call it weird or odd but I think that is what keeps you interested. The main character could of easily been pathetic but some how I was drawn in by him, I am not sure if it was his boyish nature or not but you begin to care about him. The film is a comedy but it doesn't have many big laughs in it, to be honest I didn't laugh as much as I expected to and I'm not sure sure if that's a bad thing or not but it never seemed to matter. The potential to be a truly funny comedy is there it just never reaches that point but even with its down falls I was still drawn into the story and it's main character.
A big reason the film is this good is it's cast. Michael C. Hall gives a strong performance as Morris and Peter Fonda gives a relaxed but impressive performance as his father. To add some sexiness and spice to the story you have Brie Larson and Lucy Liu who are both a delight to watch. The supporting cast were all terrific in the film as well.
"The Trouble With Bliss" isn't going to be a film for everyone, there's no action and the laughs don't come all that often but it's still a solid little Indie film that some how shines through all it's weaknesses. The film is worth checking out for the cast alone but it is also serves up well for anyone that is looking for something different to watch.
Released by Anchor Bay Entertainment
*** Out Of *****