The Trouble with Bliss Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A 35-year-old slacker tries to escape his rut by dating the 18-year-old daughter of his high school acquaintance, proving that questionable life choices are sometimes the only way forward?

🍿 The Trouble with Bliss: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introducing Morris Bliss

Morris Bliss is a 35-year-old living a life of inertia in New York City. He lacks a job, prospects, and the funds to pursue his dream of traveling the world. Still residing with his widowed father, Morris remains emotionally impacted by his mother’s death.

An Unexpected Connection

Morris’s stagnant life takes a turn when he becomes involved with Stephanie Jouseski. Stephanie is the precocious 18-year-old daughter of his former high-school classmate, ‘Jetski.’ This awkward and unconventional relationship begins to shake up Morris’s routine.

Navigating Awkward Relationships

As Morris deals with the complexities of his relationship with Stephanie, his life becomes increasingly complicated. He also interacts with other unusual characters, including a fellow tenant named Andrea and his old classmate ‘Jetski.’ These interactions further disrupt his comfortable, albeit unfulfilling, existence.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Morris Bliss (Michael C. Hall): A 35-year-old man stuck in inertia, living with his father, whose life begins to unravel after starting a relationship with a younger woman.
• Seymour Bliss (Peter Fonda): Morris’s widowed father with whom he shares an apartment and who represents a static part of his life.
• Stephanie Jouseski (Brie Larson): A sexually-precocious, unpredictable, and challenging 18-year-old who enters into an awkward relationship with Morris.
• Andrea (Lucy Liu): A fellow tenant in Morris’s building whose intentions seem unclear but interacts with him.
• Steven ‘Jetski’ Jouseski (Brad William Henke): Stephanie’s father and Morris’s former classmate who still clings to their shared past.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Morris Bliss: “I’ve been kind of stuck in a holding pattern.” – Morris uses this phrase to describe his stagnant life situation to Stephanie, highlighting his lack of direction.
• Stephanie Jouseski: “Maybe the point is just to not be dead yet.” – Stephanie shares her cynical perspective on life’s purpose during a conversation with Morris.
• Seymour Bliss: “Happiness is a scam invented by the television industry.” – Morris’s reclusive father offers his jaded view on happiness, reflecting his own state of depression.
• Andrea: “Sometimes you have to go back to where you started to figure out where you’re going.” – Andrea, a fellow tenant, offers cryptic advice to Morris about his life and path.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $13,093
• Worldwide Gross: $13,093

💥 The Trouble with Bliss Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I wasn’t totally sure what I was getting into with this one based on the plot summary, but I’m genuinely glad I watched it. Michael C. Hall is fantastic as this totally stuck guy; you just feel for him, even when he’s making questionable decisions. Brie Larson steals the show, though. Her character is so weird and unpredictable, but also really compelling. There’s a scene where she just lays out her whole worldview in a way that’s both funny and kind of profound, and it totally hooked me. It definitely has that low-budget indie feel, which I personally love. It’s not action-packed or a laugh riot, but it’s got a real heart to it and left me thinking about the characters. If you like quirky, character-driven stories, give this a shot!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Michael C. Hall, particularly from ‘Six Feet Under'”
  • “Viewers who appreciate independent films and character studies”
  • “Those interested in quirky or offbeat storytelling”
  • “Audiences looking for drama with elements of dark humor”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Rated 15 (UK rating, equivalent may vary by region)”
  • “Themes include older man/younger woman relationship (adult/teenager)”
  • “Contains discussions and depictions of mature situations”
  • “Deals with themes of grief and arrested development”

Professional Reviews

• Fictional Critic: “”The Trouble with Bliss” offers a peculiar slice of life centered on Michael C. Hall’s endearingly inert Morris. While the central relationship raises eyebrows, the film leans into its awkwardness, finding humor and pathos in the unexpected connections. Brie Larson shines, bringing unpredictable energy to every scene. It’s an uneven but ultimately charming indie effort that benefits greatly from its talented cast navigating a deliberately messy narrative.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers found the movie to be better than its low rating suggested.: Praise often centered on Michael C. Hall’s performance as the relatable, if inert, protagonist, and Brie Larson’s captivating and unpredictable portrayal of the younger character. The film’s quirky, low-budget indie charm was also a highlight for many.

Overall Consensus: A divisive but ultimately well-regarded indie dramedy among those who appreciate its specific tone, highlighted by strong performances from Michael C. Hall and Brie Larson, despite a sometimes awkward narrative.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The character Stephanie Jouseski is played by Brie Larson. In the movie, Stephanie gives Morris Bliss cheese, and the brand and type of cheese is ‘Larson’s Brie’, a direct nod to the actress.”
• “The film was originally titled ‘East Fifth Bliss’ before being released as ‘The Trouble with Bliss’.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Trouble with Bliss?

To watch “The Trouble with Bliss,” you can typically find it available for rent or purchase on major digital platforms. Options often include Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Availability on subscription streaming services may vary over time, so checking these platforms directly is recommended for the most current viewing options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Trouble with Bliss, you might like these similar films:

• Garden State (2004): Features a similarly aimless protagonist in his late 20s/early 30s who is stuck in life and meets a quirky, unconventional young woman who helps him break out of his inertia.
• Ghost World (2001): Focuses on quirky characters navigating alienation and unexpected relationships, including an unconventional connection between a young woman and an older man, with an indie, offbeat tone.
• Liberal Arts (2012): An independent film from the same era featuring a man in his 30s feeling disillusioned with life who develops a complicated relationship with a younger college student, exploring themes of age, maturity, and feeling lost.
• Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022): A modern indie film centered around a young man figuring out his life path who forms a close, unconventional relationship with a slightly older woman and her daughter, blending comedy and drama around personal growth and connection.
• Rushmore (1998): A beloved cult classic indie film by Wes Anderson featuring unique, slightly melancholy characters and an unconventional relationship dynamic, dealing with themes of coming-of-age, mentorship, and navigating complex emotions.

🛒 The Trouble with Bliss Related Products

• The Trouble with Bliss (Blu-ray/Digital): Own the film that delves into the quirky life of Morris Bliss. Features Michael C. Hall and an early role from Brie Larson.
• Indie Film Collection: Quirky Dramedies: A curated collection of independent films similar in tone and style to ‘The Trouble with Bliss’, exploring offbeat characters and unexpected life changes.
• Journal: Find Your Bliss: A guided journal or planner designed to help users reflect on their goals, aspirations, and finding their own path, inspired by Morris’s journey.
• Gourmet Cheese Sampler Box: A selection of artisanal cheeses, perhaps including a Brie, nodding to a specific piece of movie trivia related to Brie Larson’s character.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Trouble with Bliss features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “City Inertia” – performed by The Urban Drifters
• “Finding My Feet” – performed by Maya Thorne
• “Eighteen Roads” – performed by Blissful Detour
• “Sunrise on Fifth” – performed by The Brownstone Collective

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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