Ellie Kemper co-stars in this Netflix romantic comedy based on the novel by Katherine Center.
Taking a break from the drama brewing on and off camera for Yellowstone, C&I reader favorite Luke Grimes goes for something lighter and brighter in Happiness for Beginners, a romantic comedy premiering Thursday on Netflix. He’s cast opposite Ellie Kemper of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt in the film, which was written and directed by Vicky Wight (The Lost Husband) and based on the novel by Katherine Center.
Kemper plays Helen, a heretofore risk-averse woman who attempts a drastic life reset in the wake of her divorce. Specifically, she enrolls in a backcountry survival course hiking the Appalachian Trail. From the beginning, Helen’s plan to be the best hiker in the group is repeatedly tested. As it turns out, however, bear traps and blisters might be easier to deal with than the arrival of a handsome newcomer named Jake (Grimes).

Praising the chemistry generated by her two stars, Wight noted: “Ellie and Luke really set a lovely, inclusive tone, and they were both a joy from start to finish.”
Here is the Netflix trailer for Happiness for Beginners.
Photography: Barbara Nitke/NETFLIX