Silver Linings Playbook

I know that Silver Linings Playbook is flawed. Perhaps it's because, when I saw it, I still had a bitter taste in my mouth over Les Miserables. Or maybe Silver Linings Playbook is just a very likeable, very sweet, well meaning movie. But I sort of loved it.

Directed by David O. Russell, the story is about Pat (Bradley Cooper), a man who went a little nuts after he found his wife Nicky cheating on him in their home and was committed to a mental health institution in Baltimore. At the start of the film, his well meaning mom (Jacki Weaver) takes him out of the hospital and home to Philly, where he struggles to assimilate to normal life, while trying to win back his cheating wife who has a restraining order and zero interest. His father (Robert DeNiro in a refreshing role) is an Eagles loving bookie and his brother (Shea Whigham!!) is successful in every way he is not. Eventually he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), and she's a mouthy widow who speaks her mind and doesn't take any of his crap. The two eventually team up to perform in a dance contest.

It may sound cheesy, and parts of it are, but it's also a lot of fun, and just a really well meaning, sweet movie. The screenplay is great - it's equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. The chemistry between Cooper and Lawrence is so damn good, it's truly a pleasure to watch. My biggest problem with the film is that Tiffany being caught up on Pat seems like a major character flaw. She's this strong, independent woman who wastes her time and half of the movie chasing a man who couldn't possibly be less interested in her. He's in love with someone else, and uses every single opportunity to let her know that. Why would a young, beautiful girl waste her time on a man like that? I know, I know. I guess the answer is love, or whatever, but I just found that part of it sort of insufferable. I also didn't like how the movie started out so strong and became more cliched and commonplace as it went on. But the positive things about the film (like, it's not Les Mis!) and the performance, and just the overall likeability definitely outweigh these small problems.

I read this article from Paste about the 25 best performances of the year, and Jennifer Lawrence was on the list. And she deserves it! But I really liked what they said about her, which was something to the effect of, She can literally do anything she wants right now. And I think that's true. Post Hunger Games, she's probably the biggest star not named Kristen Stewart under 25 in Hollywood. Plus, unlike Stewart, she's got the talent to back up the stardom. Plus, she's drop dead gorgeous. She absolutely can do anything in the entire world next. As Tiffany, she comes on the screen like a bat out of hell, and elevates every single scene she's a part of. I hope she wins the Oscar in a few months because she's that good in this movie. Cooper is pretty impressive as well. I've never seen him play a character so well rounded before. He's been good in other movies, but this is his first real, fleshed out character with ticks and nuerosis, and Cooper nails it. Weaver, who WOWED in Animal Kingdom a few years ago, makes a meaningless part feel real and sweet. And DeNiro is back to form, playing the sort of character he should have spent the last decade playing. He's absolutely a joy to watch, and if Meet the Fockers made you forget what a great actor he is, this movie will remind you.

Overall, Silver Linings Playbook is definitely a crowd pleaser. It's sweet and funny, fun and just plain cute. In a year of dark, depressing, divisive movies, Silver Linings is a rare feel good love story.

Grade: B+