After Ever Happy

After Ever Happy

As a shocking truth about a couple's families emerges, the two lovers discover they are not so different from each other. Tessa is no longer the sweet, simple, good girl she was when she met Hardin — any more than he is the cruel, moody boy she fell so hard for.

  • Released: 2022-08-25
  • Runtime: 119 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Romance
  • Stars: Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Chance Perdomo, Carter Jenkins, Kiana Madeira, Stephen Moyer, Louise Lombard, Mira Sorvino, Arielle Kebbel, Frances Turner, Rob Estes, Atanas Srebrev, Anton Kottas, Ryan Ol, Tosin Thompson, Jack Bandeira, Emmenuel Todorov, Velizar Nikolaev Biney, Franklin Kendrick, Ana Ivanova, Jordan Peters
  • Director: Castille Landon
 Comments
  • Ltufano23 - 22 January 2024
    They Somehow Get Worse
    After Ever Happy. After. Ever. Happy. Attempting to invoke the saying 'Happy Ever After', the writers didn't how the title sounded, which leaves a jumbled mess, foreshadowing the movie. Though none have had excellent titles, this one may take the cake for one of the worst-titled movies of all time.

    Stocked with the same break-up/make-up that has been redone multiple times in each installment, After Ever Happy cannot figure out any new ways to cause drama. Unsure which character to give MORE daddy issues to, the writers decide to give them to both by giving double daddy issues to Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) and expanding on Tessa Young's (Josephine Langford) as well. I have never seen a character go through the same daddy issue arc, with 2 different fathers, but this franchise never fails to amaze me.

    Writing, filming, editing, and releasing with only one year between each installment, the lack of quality in the franchise is painstakingly evident. After Ever Happy continues to trick viewers into rewatching the same reskinned movie by changing the title. Thankfully, with only one left in the franchise, we are almost at the merciful end. This truly belongs in the Sewers of Cinema.
  • ramosmeghan - 12 February 2023
    Are you kidding me?!
    Another to be continued? I don't understand why I keep watching this series ... movie after movie where almost nothing happens. I'd give the production quality a solid a 7, but the plot is so unbelievably bad...I don't understand how this got made into a movie, much less multiple movies. At this point I am finding it really hard to care about whether the characters make it... and I almost suspect they won't. I think I keep watching to see something that makes these worth the effort, but it's like watching paint dry. There are so many books out there to choose from, with much better source material.
  • gemini-1922 - 28 December 2022
    Films That Send the Wrong Message to Young Women
    Alright, I could write a book about why these films are not good. However, I'll attempt to be concise. The "After" film series continues to show why Hardin gets worse and worse the longer he's with Tessa. Yes, in After Ever Happy, Hardin attended therapy sessions. However, you cannot get back together with an ex merely 5 months later and expect everything to be better. Plus, Hardin's reason for being there was to get a book published. He lied to her once again. They should not get back together even after Hardin's therapy because the foundation of their entire relationship is based upon lies and lack of trust. It's not the lack of love. It's Hardin's heavy emotional abuse and Tessa's low emotional intelligence that causes this relationship to suffer. They broke up (several times) for a reason. Tessa tolerates and enables Hardin's behaviour. Hardin is an emotional abuser who often gaslights Tessa's ambitions and needs. He craves control over Tessa. He is also incredibly impulsive and violent. He can't have one conversation without exploding in rage. For goodness sake, he committed arson on his mum's house on her wedding day !! And then Tessa was the getaway car ! Yes, I would be incredibly angry with my mum if I found her with another man on her wedding night ... But that does not justify arson ! Bloody hell.

    These films do not teach a good lesson to young women. The lesson: "It's a woman's job to fix a man." Absolutely not. Wrong. The lesson would be taught if Tessa leaves Hardin for good. But she doesn't. She never means it when she tells Hardin that she's "done" going back and forth. She always returns to him. Every time. Unfortunately, many young and naive women stay with toxic and/or abusive men because they believe that their love can eventually fix everything.

    Another reason Hardin is horrible is because he treats Tessa as if she is his object. He is incredibly controlling. He makes power plays and manipulative moves, such as showing up at her restaurant in NYC so that she MUST talk to him. She's at work, so she's forced to serve his table ! Also, remember in the beginning of this film when she confidently goes to find him at some drug house after a fight? Do you recall that he refuses to leave with her? But as SOON as Hardin's buddy puts his arm around Tessa, Hardin gets angry. Once he loses control over her, the bomb is lit. These examples are evidence that he doesn't trust Tessa. And Tessa doesn't trust him, either. What is a relationship without trust?! Trust travels both ways. Additionally, a relationship is supposed to make both partners better people. You're supposed to grow with your partner, but Tessa and Hardin spiral downward together. Tessa may not be naive and "innocent" anymore, but Hardin is still impulsive, moody, and violent throughout all 4 films. He still lies. He lies about his reason for being in New York City, which was to publish a book he wrote about her. I'd be so angry if my ex made a profit off of our story without asking me first.

    The filmmaking and cinematography were not bad. But the story this film attempts to tell is giving the wrong message. Why another film is in development is beyond my comprehension.
  • gennie-32442 - 7 November 2022
    Interesting romantic sequel
    Like the previous 3 movies from the After series, I liked this movie a lot! I liked it more than the third movie. The actors are great and the story is very interesting! The reason I gave the movie 9 starts instead of 10 is because I didn't like the language of the main characters. But perhaps it had to fit the characters. Hardin and Tessa have gone through a lot and the development in their romance and relationship was very interesting. Although they have issues, they try to support each other in difficult times. I am looking forward to the 5th movie. Amazing cinematography, because I read that the movie is filmed in Bulgaria, but the plot takes place in Seattle, London and New York city.
  • rkhalfan - 28 September 2022
    It just keeps getting better and better
    It's a really good movie . First of all, if you haven't read the books or seen the other three films and even if you have, it's not fair to rate this film based on what you wanted to see and not what was presented. Secondly, this is probably the best film in the series ( according to my view ). The film was well made despite the critics . Loved seeing tessa stand up for herself and what she believes is right in a relationship. Loved seeing hardin own up to his actions and realistically seeking the help he needed. Overall in this film what the characters went through actually made sense and in my opinion i completely connected with the characters and felt what they so need less to say it was a job well done .Hopefully the next film comes soon and does this one justice and even more .
  • cgvsluis - 22 September 2022
    Part one of a two part story healing of Hardin eased abruptness of ending
    This is part one of a two part handling of After Ever Happy which is the conclusion of Tessa and Hardin's story. This is the fourth film and I was happy to see that they kept as many cast members as they had considered some of the major changes between films one, two and three.

    I am a big fan of the books (guilty pleasure) and recognize that this is not the healthiest of relationships, but in this film we see a subtle shift to Hardin in which he does some healing independent of Tessa and Tessa does a little growing up independent of Hardin. These are some signs of moving towards a healthier relationship.

    In this installment we pick up right where the third film ended with Hardin discovering that his mom was unfaithful to his father and in fact he has a different biological father. This of course sets Hardin off on his usual path of destruction. Tessa makes one attempt to reach him, but then decides she has to look out for herself and heads back home to America where she makes a devastating personal discovery (I would actually say two discoveries). Hardin finally realizes that he should be there for Tessa when she needs him. But it seems that this revelation is a little too late as Tessa decides she needs time apart and goes to New York with Landon. This film ends at an odd moment that leaves you looking over your shoulder for the next film with the "wait is that it?".

    As a fan of the story, I am still thrilled that it is getting a film treatment and I love the two main actors. They seem to have wonderful chemistry which really helps sell the story. I have big hopes for the next film. There are not as many steamy scenes in this film as our main characters spend a lot of time apart...but don't let that deter the romantics, I think you will still be happy.

    Strong recommendation to fans of the story and to romantics I say hang in there, I think you will ultimately be happy.