Movie Review - Joy

So Joy was the big ticket on Christmas Day. I read somewhere that it sold out in theaters across America all day. No wonder I couldn’t find a screening, so I saw it the next day. 

I will off by saying I really enjoyed the movie, I know there are plenty of mixed reviews out there. Was it my favorite movie of the year? No, but I still think it has merits. Many people may have overhyped the film, perhaps setting their expectations too high. This is what I find to be the likely cause for the mediocre reception. 

I feel this movie is very David O’Russell. A lot of nothingness & noise leading up to a big moment. Ring a bell? For me Silver Linings Playbook was all about the noise, but the pay off was the finale. Did Joy offer that same “joyous” ending. Not quite, at least not the same way. There was no love story. No volatile emotions, may I even say a lack of drama. However, it is an interesting (mostly real) story of entrepreneur & inventor Joy Mangano. It reminds you how sometimes the little moments can lead to the biggest things. Isn’t that worth celebrating?

FACT CHECK - WHICH PARTS OF THE MOVIE WERE REAL?

This film was heavy on Jennifer Lawrence & lacking on Bradley Cooper, another possible point of conflict for those who wanted to see another SLP match up. It did feature some great cameo’s like Susan Lucci & Melissa Rivers who flawlessly evoked her late mother Joan Rivers at the early days of QVC. By the way shout of to QVC. I grew up in Pennsylvania, not far from the QVC HQ, it was very much a part of my life. I even remember that Miracle Mop! BTW nice touch with the Amish horse & bugee. It certainly reminds me of home.

Do you need to RUN to see Joy? No. But see it. Whether its the first rainy weekend you find yourself with nothing to do or when it is available on demand. I would say save it from a cross country flight, but it has too many nominations, so if you are into the awards season, you do not want to feel left out by waiting that long, do you?

DID YOU SEE JOY? WHAT DID YOU THINK? ANOTHER HIT OR A BIG MISS? TELL ME & LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.