Smiley Face

Jane is an aspiring actress who always seems to be in the wrong place at the right time, while riding a perpetual buzz. She heads into a packed day in Los Angeles juggling auditions, errands, and the ongoing urge for more marijuana. After she samples her roommate's cupcakes infused with pot, her plans spiral into a string of comic detours across the city. She bumps into a streetwise dealer, a tightfisted casting director, and a cast of oddball friends, each encounter amplifying the chaos of her ambitions. The city becomes a playground for improvisation, miscommunication, and slapstick misfortune as she chases opportunity while dealing with the consequences of her choices.

Directed by Gregg Araki, Smiley Face comes from an original screenplay by Dylan Haggerty. Anna Faris stars as Jane F, supported by John Krasinski, Adam Brody, Jane Lynch, and Roscoe Lee Browne in a playful Los Angeles backdrop, with cameos that nod to the city's movie culture.

Awards: Despite its humor and a strong cast, Smiley Face did not receive major nominations. It has a small cult footprint within Araki's body of work and is often cited by fans of indie micro budget comedies as a cheeky late 2000s LA spoof, discussed in DVD commentaries and festival Q&As.

Cultural impact: The film has a modest but loyal following among fans of Gregg Araki and Anna Faris. It is remembered for its deadpan delivery, on screen chemistry, and the way it captures LA as a mischief fueled playground, inspiring spirited discussions on indie comedic risk.

Reception & themes: Critics were split on the episodic structure but often praised Faris's commitment to a relentlessly comic persona. The movie probes themes of ambition and dependence, fame hunger, and the collision between carefree impulse and real world consequences while delivering a sharp, unapologetic punch that lingers after the credits and begs a rewatch.