On Monday night Bostonist had a chance to see Happy Endings, the latest film from writer/director Don Roos (Bounce, the Opposite of Sex), at the Landmark Kendall theater, and also stuck around after the film for a Q+A with actor Jason Ritter. Usually the title Happy Endings would allude to something a bit more lascivious or perverted, but in this case there were no lecherous old men being "fully serviced". The rather convoluted basis for the movie lies in a handful of storylines intricately threaded together and star an ensemble cast of familiar names - Lisa Kudrow, Tom Arnold, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Ritter, and Laura Dern. In general the multiple plots target the unpredictability of life, loves, and the uncertainty people have in themselves and those around them.

Unless you're not following along and failing to pay attention, you'll more than likely have a great time in watching this. Half of the appeal lies in the break out of typecasting that the actors take. For example, Tom Arnold, as Frank, has one of the most emotionally heavy roles, and Lisa Kudrow's Mamie is a complex bag of secrets and sadness. By the end you can't help but think that there is no way this is "Phoebe". The other half of the appeal? The laughs. This movie is genuinely funny, fresh, smart and original.

So what about Jason Ritter?

After the credits rolled by, Mr. Ritter (yes, son of John.) was introduced and took some questions from a few of the fans who stuck around after the movie. Some tidbits about the movie:

• Maggie Gyllenhaal did pre-record some of the tracks she sang in the movie but none of them were used. She preferred to sing live during all filming because she felt that lipsyncing doesn't work and looks funny. There's no doubt that the girl can sing.


• Jason was nervous filming the love scene with Maggie because, unlike a lot of actors out there, he didn't get into acting to "make out with hot movie stars". He even mentioned that he rushed in for a kiss too quickly and mistakenly bumped Gyllenhaal on the mouth with his forehead. The nerves worked well for him though because of the nature of the character - a closeted young gay man having awkward sex with a hot girl.


• Bostonist noticed that there were some subtle inside references to work the actors had done thanks to a quick shot of a tivo - Wonderland and Friends (Kudrow), and Secretary (Gyllenhaal). When asked if there were more inside jokes Ritter mentioned that a dvd he picks up in the movie is actually Wonderland.


• Tom Arnold is, indeed, quite hyper but according to Ritter that's just a defense mechanism until someone gets to know him.


• Don Roos has a new "family member" with Ritter as there is a standing group of actors who like to participate in each of his movies. Ritter said he would love to work with Roos again because of his style of work - allowing actors to experiment and organically grow into their parts, not forcing them to recite lines exactly as directed.


• Freddy Vs. Jason - actors weren't necessarily the first priority, the effects, the fake blood, and the action were!

Happy Endings opens this Friday, July 15th, at the Landmark in Kendall (Cambridge), Loews Boston Common, and the West Newton Cinema.