The plus sized owner of a bed & breakfast tries to find a date for her sister's wedding in Relative Happiness. Lexie Ivy (Melissa Bergland) is the proprietor of the Ivy Cottage Bed & Breakfast in a small town in Nova Scotia. Lexie's sister Gabby (Molly Dunsworth) is about to get married and her family keeps bugging Ivy about whether or not she'll have a date. The most immediate possibility is Joss (Aaron Poole), the man fixing her roof, though Lexie can't stand his behaviour. Things seem look up for Lexie when a handsome guest named Adrian (Johnathan Sousa) checks into the B&B, however things quickly become complicated. Relative Happiness is a somewhat quirky romantic comedy, featuring a likeable lead in the form of Melissa Bergland as Lexie Ivy. The film wastes no time in commenting on Lexie's heavyset stature, as the film starts with her struggling to fit into a bridesmaid's dress. Lexie often feels looked down upon by her family, especially since her sisters have more “appealing” body types. This establishes Lexie as somewhat of an outcast in her family, whose search for a date is very much about proving that she is just as appealing and attractive as her “model-like” sister Gabby. Relative Happiness features many of the familiar beats of romantic comedies and it is not really too hard to guess how the plot of the film will turn out. However, the film still has a few surprises. Particularly, a number of plot developments in the second half results in the film becoming much more dramatic in tone. This results in Relative Happiness turning into a much more well-rounded film, as opposed to a typical clichéd romantic comedy. Altogether, Relative Happiness is a better than average romantic comedy, with a very appealing lead actress. ★ ★ ★ ★ | LIKED IT
