“Happy Face,” / “The Better Sister.”

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“Happy Face” (Amazon Prime) crime drama, adapted from the 2018 podcast “Happy Face” by Melissa Moore, and her 2009 autobiography “Shattered Silence,” co-written with M. Bridget Cook. Plot centers on Melissa Reed, the daughter of serial killer Keith Jesperson, known as the Happy Face killer. 



       First off, most U.S.-made true crime series, in contrast with British versions, are painstakingly long. Minimum of 8 episodes, compared with the Brits’ 3 or 5. It'd be fine if the back stories offer (investigative) clarity to the eventual commitment of crime or if the added navigation of the criminal mind gives us ample childhood or societal background. 

       “Happy Face” didn't really present those. Sure, British shows don't do either but since these are true crimes, google helps. Yet to fit all these in 4 episodes is brilliant. Eight episodes become soap operatic, redundant, and mushy. As in “Happy Face.”

       As Mr Jesperson, I can forgive Dennis Quaid's characteristic wide-eye acting but not the mushy script and unimaginative direction that is smothered with cliches. 🎭👎🎬


“The Better Sister” (Amazon Prime) drama thriller, an adaptation of the 2019 novel of the same name by Alafair Burke. Premise: Two estranged sisters are forced together after one of their husbands is murdered.



       The sisters are Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks. Ms Biel is Chloe Taylor, editor-in-chief of a supposedly super-popular magazine. Ms Banks is Nicky Macintosh, Chloe's estranged, alcoholic older sister.

       If not for Jessica and Elizabeth's performance, this unbelievably naive and incredibly teeming with implausible plot-points “thriller” would have been “5 dumb squirrels” grade by my measure.

I haven't read Ms Brake's source novel, is it a YL? A lot of things don't add up, including why is Chloe such a biggie celebrity? Anna Wintour or Martha Stewart kind? This ride tells us she is huge, probably comparable to Jennifer Lawrence or Scarlett Johansson? 

       The other characters are typical, stereotypical “politically correct” obligatories. And I am just so irked by the literal background songs! 🎭👎🎬


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