63
Metascore
23 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 88Chicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonChicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonJust as Zhao uses his comic gifts to create an affecting human, so Dong's performance as Wu is a triumph of honesty and tact.
- 80Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranThis is a film that goes its own way to the end as it asks the audience, "What you just saw, were they happy times or not?" The question is a good one, and the answer, like this film, is sure to stay with you.
- 80L.A. WeeklyMark OlsenL.A. WeeklyMark OlsenAnchored by two fine performances, this bittersweet comedy about second chances just might signal a new beginning for the director as well.
- 80The New York TimesDana StevensThe New York TimesDana StevensA wise, gentle and sad new comedy by Zhang Yimou.
- 75Miami HeraldMarta BarberMiami HeraldMarta BarberMay disappoint those who expect a more traditional Chinese setting. But, despite its modern look, this is far from being a Western film.
- 70Wall Street JournalJoe MorgensternWall Street JournalJoe MorgensternCrude as its build-up may be, the movie pays off with unexpected delicacy.
- 50Austin ChronicleMarrit IngmanAustin ChronicleMarrit IngmanThis is a film strictly for hardcore sentimentalists, despite its straight-ahead depiction of the harsh urban landscape in contemporary China.
- 50The A.V. ClubScott TobiasThe A.V. ClubScott TobiasHappy Times doesn't buck the clichés so much as infuse them with feeling, playing off the pleasant, unforced rhythm of two characters who pine for simple companionship.
- 40VarietyDerek ElleyVarietyDerek ElleySmall but delightful tale about a dyed-in-the-wool spieler who develops a soft spot for a blind girl dumped in his care.