by Jesus Ibarra
Special coupon for Dinuba Platinum Theatre at the end of this review.
If you saw the trailers for Silver Linings Playbook, you probably thought you would be getting another raunchy romantic comedy starring two of the hottest actors right now: Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Well let me tell you these trailers were completely misleading. I am not the biggest fan of rom coms, but I loved the talent involved with this movie. Aside from the leads, the film also includes Robert DeNiro, Jackie Weaver, and Julia Stiles.
I figured it would be more of the raunchy comedies similar to Judd Apatow movies, but boy I was wrong. I loved this movie though for very different reasons than I thought I would. The basic plot is Pat (Bradley Cooper) moves back into his parents home, played by Robert DeNiro and Jackie Weaver, after getting released from a mental health facility after an eight month stay as part of a plea bargain. (Pat is diagnosed as bipolar) Determined to get his job, house and estranged ex-wife back, Pat stumbles on to widowed Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who is mysterious, hot, smart, has a witty foul mouth, and her own mental health problems. The interactions between both characters is where most of the movie happens. 
This may sound like your typical rom com setup, but it isn’t that at all. This movie is about people struggling with mental illness and trying to function with reality. The first half of the movie or so shows you exactly how messed up Tiffany and Pat are, but it isn’t incredibly depressing. But if you have experienced any of what the characters have gone through it will strike a chord like it did with me.
My favorite part of the movie was Jennifer Lawrence, who has amazing chemistry with everyone. She is just freaking amazing, not to knock Bradley Cooper’s performance which was great too. Every scene she is in she kills it. She is just perfect, you would not believe she was only about twenty when she filmed this. She sells the material, and is so damn talented she held her own with every actor including Robert DeNiro.
The other highlight is the fantastic dialogue which just flows from actor to actor sounding natural and witty. These characters sounded like actual people. The movie is more of a drama, with some romantic and comedic elements. However, the ending is a bit cliché, but the movie and the actors sell it. For me as someone who isn’t particularly normal, I loved the movie because it highlights how non normal people can be.
Editor’s note: I just saw this movie myself and loved it. I loved it because it was real, and it gave hope. Bradley Cooper has talked in interviews about the stigma of mental illness and the way this David O. Russell directed film treats mental illness as something that doesn’t have to beat you if you have the right support system. I will definitely be rooting for Silver Linings Playbook during this year’s Oscars!
Silver Linings Playbook is currently playing at Dinuba Platinum Theatres 6. Showtimes for other shows playing in Dinuba can be found on their website.
Print this coupon and enjoy a special discount for Kings River Life readers only!
0 Comments