It is no use, however, as Lenny eventually finds that he has become incapable of feeling. The only person who attains happiness is Billy, who finally achieves an orgasm for the first time. He proudly declares this to his family, who respond with confusion. Cast Jane Adams as Joy Jordan Elizabeth Ashley as Diane Freed Dylan Baker as Bill Maplewood Lara Flynn Boyle as Helen Jordan Ben Gazzara as Lenny Jordan Jared Harris as Vlad Philip Seymour Hoffman as Allen Louise Lasser as Mona Jordan Jon Lovitz as Andrew "Andy" Kornbluth Camryn Manheim as Kristina Rufus Read as Billy Maplewood Cynthia Stevenson as Trish Jordan Maplewood Justin Elven as Timmy Maplewood Lila Glantzman-Leib as Chloe Maplewood Gerry Becker as psychiatrist Arthur J. Nascarella as Detective Berman Molly Shannon as Nancy Marla Maples as Ann Chambeau (real estate agent) Ann Harada as Kay Douglas McGrath as Tom Anne Bobby as Rhonda Evan Silverberg as Johnny Grasso Release Controversy The film was highly controversial for its heavy sexual themes, particularly its portrayal of pedophilia. The Sundance Film Festival refused to accept the film, alleging it to be too disagreeable. October Films was the initial distributor for the film, and even helped finance it. However, October Films' owner Seagram refused to release the movie and dropped it from the company. Good Machine ended up releasing the movie on their own, creating a new distribution arm in the process. Rating Due to adult themes, Happiness received an NC-17 rating from the MPAA, and that caused the film to be limited in distribution; the film also had difficulty in advertising. For that reason, Happiness surrendered its NC-17 rating and was instead released unrated. Reception Critical reception Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars, and rated it number five in his top 10 films of 1998. In his review, he wrote: "...the depraved are only seeking what we all seek, but with a lack of ordinary moral vision... In a film that looks into the abyss of human despair, there is the horrifying suggestion that these characters may not be grotesque exceptions, but may in fact be part of the mainstream of humanity.... It is not a film for most people. It is certainly for adults only. But it shows Todd Solondz as a filmmaker who deserves attention, who hears the unhappiness in the air and seeks its sources." In a letter written