Happythankyoumoreplease
Happythankyoumoreplease is a 2010 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Josh Radnor in his feature directorial debut.[1] The story centers on Sam Wexler, an aspiring writer played by Radnor, who takes in a young boy separated from his family on the New York City subway, which disrupts his life and intersects with the romantic and professional struggles of his close-knit group of twenty-something friends in Manhattan.[1] The film explores themes of love, friendship, career aspirations, and personal growth among young adults navigating urban life.[2] Featuring an ensemble cast including Malin Åkerman as Annie, Sam's best friend dealing with alopecia and unwanted romantic advances from her boss, Kate Mara as Mississippi, a teacher developing a budding relationship with Sam, and Zoe Kazan as Mary Catherine, an optimistic young woman facing relationship challenges, the movie blends humor with introspective moments characteristic of independent cinema.[1] Produced on a modest budget, it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010, where it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature before receiving a limited theatrical release in March 2011.[3] Critically, the film holds a 6.7 out of 10 rating on IMDb (as of November 2025) based on over 31,000 user votes, reflecting a generally positive audience response despite mixed reviews from critics, with a 42% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes.[1][3] Its title derives from a phrase symbolizing gratitude and desire for more positive experiences, echoing the narrative's optimistic undertone.[4]Synopsis
Plot
Happythankyoumoreplease weaves together the lives of six young New Yorkers over the course of several weeks, capturing their everyday struggles with love, friendship, and maturity in the bustling city. The story unfolds through multiple interconnected narratives, emphasizing intimate, slice-of-life moments that reveal personal growth amid joy and uncertainty.[3] At the heart of the film is Sam Wexler, an aspiring writer enduring a series of misfortunes, who unexpectedly encounters a young boy named Rasheen separated from his foster family on the subway. Sam impulsively takes Rasheen under his wing, caring for him in his apartment and introducing him to the rhythms of adult life, including late nights and simple pleasures like pizza and drawing. This act of kindness disrupts Sam's routine and forces him to confront his own patterns of isolation and fleeting relationships.[5][6] Parallel to Sam's storyline, his cousin Mary Catherine and her boyfriend Charlie navigate the pressures of commitment in their long-term relationship. When Charlie receives a promising job offer in Los Angeles, the couple grapples with the prospect of relocating together, sparking tensions about their compatibility and future plans during heartfelt conversations and shared daily routines. Their arc highlights the challenges of transitioning from carefree youth to more serious life decisions.[6][3] Sam's best friend Annie, who deals with alopecia and wears wigs to manage her self-image, faces ongoing difficulties in the dating world. She endures a series of awkward blind dates set up by well-meaning friends, finding herself drawn to incompatible partners while hesitating with a more stable option from her professional circle. Annie's experiences underscore the vulnerability and resilience required in seeking genuine connection.[3][6] Complicating Sam's personal journey is his budding romance with Mississippi, an aspiring cabaret singer working as a waitress. Their chance meeting at a bar leads to flirtatious encounters and tentative steps toward intimacy, though Mississippi's past experiences with unreliable men create barriers rooted in trust and cultural expectations of independence in the city. As their relationship develops, it intersects with Sam's responsibilities toward Rasheen, adding layers to their dynamic.[6][1] The characters' paths cross frequently at casual social gatherings, such as apartment parties and impromptu outings, where friendships provide support and spark revelations. Over the film's timeline, these interactions blend humor and pathos, illustrating how small acts of kindness and honest confrontations foster emotional evolution in the face of urban anonymity.[3][5]Themes
The film Happythankyoumoreplease explores the challenges of growing up in one's late twenties and early thirties, focusing on characters grappling with fear of commitment, self-discovery, and the tension between maintaining independence and forging meaningful connections. Protagonist Sam Wexler, an aspiring writer, embodies this struggle as he navigates career setbacks and romantic uncertainties, ultimately learning to embrace vulnerability and risk in relationships. Similarly, his friend Mary Catherine faces a pivotal decision about relocating with her boyfriend Charlie, highlighting the reluctance to sacrifice personal freedom for partnership. These narratives underscore a broader motif of maturation, where characters confront their reflexive cynicism and take steps toward emotional openness.[7][8] Central to the film's philosophy is the recurring motif of the title phrase "happy thank you more please," derived from a cabdriver's advice to Annie and serving as a mantra for cultivating gratitude and appreciating life's small joys amid uncertainty. Director Josh Radnor, who also wrote the screenplay, intentionally chose this optimistic title to counter the prevailing cynicism in independent cinema, emphasizing hope and perseverance over bleakness. The phrase reappears in the film's closing moments, reinforcing a message of continuous thankfulness as a pathway to personal fulfillment.[7][8] The subplot involving Sam and the young boy Rasheen illustrates themes of unconditional love, providing a pure contrast to the more complicated adult romantic entanglements depicted elsewhere. In this storyline, Sam's impromptu caretaking of Rasheen—beginning with a chance subway encounter—fosters a bond unburdened by legal or romantic expectations, symbolizing selfless care and emotional growth. Complementing this, Annie's experience with alopecia serves as a metaphor for vulnerability in relationships, as her physical condition mirrors her internal struggles with self-worth and openness to love, ultimately encouraging her to seek genuine connection.[7][9] Set against the backdrop of New York City, the film uses the urban environment to symbolize fleeting connections and opportunities for personal reinvention, with the city's anonymity amplifying characters' isolation while also facilitating serendipitous encounters. Friendships among the ensemble—such as the support network surrounding Sam, Annie, and Mary Catherine—emerge as a crucial system for navigating these challenges, offering stability and encouragement in the face of romantic and professional uncertainties. This portrayal of Manhattan underscores the dual nature of city life as both a source of alienation and a catalyst for communal bonds.[7][9]Cast
Casting
Josh Radnor cast himself in the lead role of Sam Wexler for Happythankyoumoreplease, having written the screenplay specifically to create a character inspired by his personal experiences in New York, marking his debut as a feature film director.[10] To achieve the film's authentic indie sensibility, Radnor prioritized an ensemble of actors capable of delivering nuanced, chemistry-driven performances, with auditions for supporting roles conducted in New York by casting directors Suzanne Smith Crowley and Jessica Kelly.[10][9] The production's limited budget shaped these decisions, favoring emerging and lesser-known talents over established stars to preserve the story's grounded, relatable tone, including Kate Mara as the aspiring cabaret singer Mississippi.[10] A notable example was the search for the young role of Rasheen, where Smith Crowley and Kelly scoured submissions and held multiple auditions before selecting newcomer Michael Algieri for his distinctive sense of stillness and presence.[10][11] Malin Åkerman was chosen as Annie for her ability to balance vulnerability and humor, committing fully to the character's alopecia by shaving her head and eyebrows, supplemented with prosthetics during filming.[10]Principal cast
Happythankyoumoreplease features an ensemble cast that brings to life the film's interconnected stories of young New Yorkers facing personal challenges and relationships.[12]| Actor | Character | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Radnor | Sam Wexler | The aspiring writer and protagonist |
| Malin Åkerman | Annie | The editor with alopecia |
| Zoe Kazan | Mary Catherine | Sam's cousin facing life changes |
| Pablo Schreiber | Charlie | Mary Catherine's boyfriend |
| Michael Algieri | Rasheen | The abandoned child |
| Kate Mara | Mississippi | The optimistic friend |
| Tony Hale | Sam #2 | Mississippi's love interest |
| Richard Jenkins | Paul Gertmanian | Publisher |