REVIEW: Silver Linings Playbook – in 250 Words

by dreynolds91

Oscar winning and widespread acclaim are generally not associated with the genre of romantic comedy, however every now and then one pops up that surprises everyone and surpasses all expectations; ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ is this decade’s ‘As Good As It Gets’.

(L-R) Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper

Pat Jr (Bradley Cooper) is released from a mental health facility after eight months of treatment for bipolar disorder and moves back home to live with his parents Pat Sr and Dolores (Robert De Niro; Jacki Weaver). Pat Jr is determined to reconcile with his wife and in the process, he meets troubled Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who recently lost her husband and her job and they agree to help each other in achieving their goals.

The single thing that one has to praise about this film is the acting and characters. They are portrayed so well and the entire cast really put in a performance, even Chris Tucker! Cooper proves his worth and versatility as an actor and De Niro puts in the performance which proves he’s back on form. Lawrence’s Oscar-winning performance is well deserved for such a challenging character. It’s evident Tiffany has troubles of her own and the emotions she goes through are ever changing making the friendship between herself and Pat all the more engaging. You find yourself really rooting for the characters.

Whilst the final third of the film stumbles to the end and is quite clichéd, there are few faults with the film. The drama and comedy are well balanced and just work.

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