Silver Linings Playbook - Movie Review

I was unsure what to take away from the trailers for Silver Linings Playbook, which appeared to be a generic Hollywood romantic comedy at first shake. But this film reaffirmed my belief that art can be judged both objectively as well as subjectively. Objectively, this film is formulaic and predictable. Subjectively, the material was handled exceptionally well, leaving me feeling satisfied as the credits rolled.

Pat (Bradley Cooper) is bi-polar. We meet Pat as he is getting ready to be discharged from a mental health facility. He has spent eight months institutionalized following a melt-down when he discovered his wife, Veronica (Julia Stiles) in the shower with a history teacher. Pat's one take-away is that he is going to win Veronica back. The fact that she has a restraining order against him seems lost in his belief that he can create his own silver linings.

Pat's father, Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro) also has mental health issues. At least it appears that way. He has been in so many fights at Philadelphia Eagles football games that he is permanently banned from the stadium. Pat Sr. is supporting the family on his book-making operation, although he has plans to open a restaurant when he hits it big. That, of course, relies heavily on his OCD superstitions. Pat is balancing his bi-polar disorder with his father's superstitions, an overbearing brother, an enabling mother and his own personal stalker, Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence).

Tiffany went through a rough period following the death of her husband. She engaged in her own self-prescribed sex therapy that resulted in her losing her job and gaining an unfavorable reputation. She agrees to help Pat win Veronica back by hatching a plan to try and win Pat's heart. In return for providing back-channel communications to Veronica, Tiffany gets Pat to agree to enter a dance competition as her partner. The plot is fairly easy to guess, but the enjoyment here is in the journey. The trip is filled with fun, zany and superbly acted comedic exchanges.

Director David O. Russell created the screenplay for Silver Linings Playbook from a novel written by Matthew Quick. I know a lot can be lost in translation from a book to screen. However, any losses here are offset by performances that bring these quirky characters to life. The mental health aspect keeps the love story interesting and funny, avoiding the pitfall of cloyingly sweet exchanges that might turn off male viewers like myself. The story is smart, with sharp dialogue that keeps the story light and fun.

I think I am slowly falling in love with Jennifer Lawrence. I first got to know her in Winter's Bone, where I found her performance incredible. I also enjoyed her in Hunger Games, but it was nice to see her in a film where she was less prone to eat a squirrel. Lawrence had a great, unsettling chemistry with Cooper that almost made me jealous. Cooper's ability to almost look directly past Lawrence as his character clings to a singular vision of reconnecting with Veronica was interesting. The facial expressions and interactions contributed to the seemingly dysfunctional, yet perfect match between the pair. The performances also accelerated the comedic value immensely. For a heavy subject, the light touch was refreshing and rewarding. De Niro added a nice diversion with his mild football superstitions, which many of us can relate to...even if we aren't OCD. Great casting gives this film impact.

Silver Linings Playbook received an R rating by the MPAA, but has relatively mild content. The film has a nude scene of Veronica in the shower. The scene doesn't show much more than breasts, although we see the history teacher stand up from a kneeling position, suggesting a particular sex act. The scene is more violent than sensual, as Pat proceeds to act on his impulses. The film also contains adult situations and humor at times, but tends to treat those topics lightly. There is a discussion of Tiffany's sexual exploits following her husband's death that are mildly graphic, but also set up an interesting exchange about levels of craziness. Overall, the thematic material is contextual and well done. I would suggest an audience of at least teens or above.

I enjoyed Silver Linings Playbook far more than anticipated. I thought it would be funny, sappy sweet and predictable. While it was funny and predictable, it never went into sappy territory. The subject matter kept the romantic scenes just far enough off balance to make them intriguing, different and incredibly enjoyable. I think that might be what sets this film apart for me. The edgy characters and unpredictable interactions. While the ending was predictable, the journey had plenty of twists and turns. That made the journey enjoyable. And in the end, I probably would have complained if the guy didn't get the girl...or vice versa. 8/10.