Jennifer Lawrence is the rarest of young actresses – both a popcorn loving fanboy favorite with films like The Hunger Games saga and more Academy-lauded flicks like Silver Lining Playbook and America Hustle. In her newest film Joy, she may just appease both.
This is the story of Joy (Jennifer Lawrence), a mom who has a large extended family, and it feels that every member is crazier than the last one. When she was young, she was a dreamer, but life has taken over her visions, to where now she is overwhelmed by everyone. Joy lives in a small house with her kids and her mother. In the basement is her ex-husband. They are still friends but not romantic. When the film opens, her father Rudy (Robert De Niro) also moves into the basement. After divorcing his wife, Rudy has become a player with older women.
One day, when everyone is fighting, an idea pops into Joy’s brain… that of a new mop. She begins designing the mop using her daughter’s crayons, and eventually creates the actual product. Rudy’s latest flame is Trudy (Isabella Rossellini), and he convinces her to invest. Trudy decides she will go halfway and Joy must get a second mortgage on her house to match the money needed. After a few hurdles, she goes to a new network called QVC and the station head Neil Walker (Bradley Cooper). At first he didn’t ‘get’ the innovative product, but he believes in the woman that is Joy. Going on a home shopping network presents another unique set of challenges. The film ends on a happy note, which is much rarer than most films this Christmas season.
The film is directed by David O. Russell, the guy behind Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. Both of those films showed a solid command of both the cast and technical aspects of making a movie. Almost from the first flickering image, Russell paints a believable portrait of a crazed family and how one overcomes adversity with success. The only complaint with the feature is the A-level actors who are in minor positions. Virginia Madsen, Diane Ladd and Susan Lucci are all regulated to very small parts. These ‘blink and you miss it’ moments just make the audience wish they all had more screen time.
Jennifer Lawrence once again shows her acting prowess and commands every moment she is on screen. She has become a powerhouse of a thespian and the go-to girl for any type of role. As one watches this film, they begin to wonder – is there any role she can’t perform? She should be on the fast track of another Academy Award nomination. Simply put, Joy is a joy to experience and one of the best of 2015. It is heartfelt and funny, pointed and poised. It is full of every emotion on the board and it will tug at your heart while pushing on your giggle button. It will easily be a part of my Top Ten of the year list.
