Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook

Rated R and Released 12/25/12

Reviewed 12/27/12 at Celebration North in Grand Rapids, MI

with Brandon

3 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

A rarity that I got Brandon to go with me to a movie, even one that he hadn't heard of, but it is Christmas break after all. He wanted to see Django, but he was a day late on that. Silver Linings Playbook is billed as a romantic comedy, but it's more like a drama with some comedy. Bradley Cooper is really good at portraying Pat Solatano, a recently released patient from a mental hospital. Although the film is a little depressing as Pat struggles with life after his departure, the small funny scenes with fellow patient Chris Rock get you through the slow-paced plot. Brandon gave the movie a 2 or 2/1/2, which I was relieved he even gave it that.

Pat is forced to return to the home of his parents - Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver. He doesn't really have much going for him, living with his parents, jobless and obsessed with his ex-wife Debra. The incident that involved her is what caused him to snap, be arrested and then forced by the courts to plea and get committed. He mistakenly thinks that now that he's free he can reenter Debra's life. He believes she will forgive him and everything will be back status quo, in spite of her restraining order against him. He agrees to a dinner at a friend's house because he thinks it will be the bridge to Debra. He meets another "nut job" named Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) at the dinner. She is a vampy spitfire that is his equal and not at all positive. Sparks fly, but not in the traditional sense. It's more like an inferno exploding when the door opens of a burning building. Chris Rock comes in and out of a few scenes, but honestly they should have used him a lot more. He was a scene stealer and added much needed humor. DeNiro was pretty comical as an obsessive compulsive guy and you realize that Pat's issues could be in the family genes. This could be depressing if we start to think of everything we could inherit. There is light at the end of the tunnel as there is a redeeming ending and the last third of the movie helps get the slowish mundane movie plugging along to some feel goodness at the conclusion.

QUIET Rating system:

Quality: JJJ

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJJ