Directed By: David O. Russell
Written By: David O. Russell (screenplay), Matthew Quick (novel)
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
Philadelphia Eagles, Mental Disorders, and Ballroom dancing. No, that is not a description of the latest reality show craze, but a listing of elements included in writer/director David O. Russell’s latest film Silver Linings Playbook. His most recent effort provides a bit of a quandary. On one hand with all its disjointed parts it shouldn’t flow nearly as well as it does. On the other hand, what is set up to be an exposure on mental disease turns into nothing more than a well-constructed romantic comedy. It is a film that poses a lot of difficult questions, but only offers easy answers. Nearly every time it moves closer to say something profound it shifts course to make a funny joke. Luckily the humor and romance are both executed well, a failure of the majority of romantic comedies, to make it a worthwhile watch. Having a stellar cast, mixed with a variety of veteran talent and rising stars, allows it to succeed where so many other films fail. The amalgamation of lightly heartfelt drama combined with great comedic moments make Silver Linings Playbook a classic audience pleaser. Unfortunately that yearning to please stops it from being anything more.
In the film Bradley Cooper plays Pat, who was recently released from a mental institution. His stint was court ordered after a domestic disturbance where he assaulted the man his wife was cheating on him with. Pat has been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, nevertheless is determined to not let it control his life. Bradley Cooper has slowly been making the transition from movie star to
After leaving the mental institution he was placed into the custody of his parents. Of course this does little to help matters. His parents, played by Jacki Weaver and Robert De Niro, immediately show how they have personally contributed to Pat’s disorder. Weaver is an overbearing mom who is blinded by her love for her son while De Niro is unable to relate to his son on any level beyond football. His OCD tendencies make him as hostile as Pat causing both to incessantly bump heads. It was great to see Robert De Niro finally show up in a role again. Lately he has been going through the motions becoming a shadow of his former self. In this we are reminded that he is still a great actor. Jacki Weaver is equally notable as the dimwitted mom who just wants them to be a family. Though the performances were first-rate, the material they were given was uninspiring. The quirkiness was overblown at times reaching sitcom levels. Sure they provided plenty of laughs, but when they attempted a serious tone it fell flat. It was akin to a ‘very special episode’ of your favorite family television show. I was continuously reminded of the family dynamic in David O. Russell’s last film The Fighter. When it was riding the line between comedic and serious it was at its best. If it leaned too heavily to one side or another it would falter.
Even with his crazy family Pat stayed focused on redefining himself, working both body and mind to be better than ever. He wishes to get his life back to where it was before the incident. Including reunited with his estranged wife. Things become more challenging when he meets up with Tiffany, a woman who has problems of her own to deal with. Jennifer Lawrence plays Tiffany as this mangled mess of emotions. Lawrence has had a remarkable career thus far and it continues here. Tiffany has had trouble coping with the recent passing of her husband, and her mental disorders aren’t making things any easier. You get a strong sense of the road these issues have lead her down, but they gloss over what her true problem is. In fact the entire mental disorder aspect of the film was handled with a soft touch. Nothing new was said, and it felt like its only purpose was to create a situation to get these two characters together. In fairness both Lawrence and Cooper have tremendous chemistry that makes their complicated relationship more enjoyable. They soon discover they can mutual benefit one another. Tiffany can give Pat a path back to his wife while Pat can help Tiffany fulfill her dream to enter a ballroom dance competition. As this unlikely relationship becomes closer Pat’s family and friends become discouraged. Pat not only has to overcome his disorder but also the multitude of people pulling him in a variety of directions.
What is impressive about this film is how it combines all these different subplots into one cohesive story. All this movement was never jarring and everything always felt connected. In fact this type of kinetic storytelling kept the pace constantly on the move. The only time it had issues was in the final climax when it all came together. Everything collapsed into a stereotypical heap of payoffs. Luckily it stopped just short of the characters expressing their love in a downpour of rain. On the surface this film deals with some extremely serious issues, but that seriousness is really a façade. When you break it down the narrative contains some grim topics yet it never goes past a superficial level. With its charismatic cast it can easily keep your interest. Regrettably the material they are given is lacking in moments. The dialogue is sketchy at times, especially when it does attempt to be insightful. Even with its flaws there’s still a lot to get behind. It succeeds at its most rudimentary levels with comedy that is both broad and clever. Romance like this is hard to find so we need to appreciate it when it comes along. It’s a film that leaves me feeling uneven. On one level I am very satisfied with the product I am given, but at same time I can’t help feeling disappointed.
Final Rating:
