Silver Linings Playbook

‘Silver Linings Playbook’ is a charming if not unconventional love story between two characters that could be described as a little emotionally unbalanced. The story follows Pat (Brad Cooper) who after beating his wife’s lover, is diagnosed as bi polar and ordered to serve out a short sentence in the local mental institution. The film starts with his release and you get the feel from the very beginning that Cooper’s character is a little unhinged. At the centre of his instability, is his obsession to get his wife back. Luckily for Pat he has a supportive group of family and friends who try their best to guide him in the right direction. This is where one of his friends gets involved and introduces him to Tiffany. Enter Jennifer Lawrence as the also slightly crazy, somewhat promiscuous sister to his best friend’s wife. She like Pat has had some emotional turmoil in recent times with the death of her husband.

Right from their initial introduction Cooper and Lawrence play off each other’s ‘crazy’ brilliantly. As much as this film is ultimately a love story it employs dramatic and comedic elements superbly, none more hilarious than Cooper himself. He captures his characters manic nature well, but falls a little short in the very dramatic scenes. This is perhaps because he never looks overly vulnerable so you don’t completely empathise with his character as much as maybe you should given his circumstances. A superb well rounded performance from Lawrence, not surprising that she won an Oscar for the role. Let’s not forget the supporting actors. It’s hard to though when you’re surrounded by the likes of De Niro who plays the part of Pat’s father. He like his son is holding a few cards short of a deck, lending something of an explanation as to where Pat’s unstable nature comes from. All play their parts perfectly as they come in and out of the story, providing comedy and drama where needed. Pat’s mother played by Jacki Weaver is sufficiently emotional at all the key moments and Chris Tucker delivers just the right amount of comedy as Pat’s friend from the loony bin.

As the movie develops, Lawrence manages to convince Cooper to join her in a dance competition. This is where the romance flourishes but also creates the source of some tension between the most important people in Pat’s life. This all comes to a head toward the end of the film, which leads to a slightly implausible deal that could bring the family to ruin. Despite the somewhat unrealistic situation and the potential for a cliché ending, the film does well to execute the finale in a way that’s both entertaining and touching. With David O’Russell (The Fighter) in the director’s chair, the movie is well paced and well directed. Script and action for the most part are brilliant, but there’s the odd point where characters move between emotions a little too quickly. Most of the time the film is very good at having you in stitches one minute and in tears the next, but this does fall apart on a few occasions.

All in all though, the film is a great watch that almost anyone would enjoy. Whist Coopers dramatic performance doesn’t earn him a perfect ten; it’s good enough and more than made up by his genius comic delivery. It’s dramatic and romantic whilst not being overly soppy, so perfect for a first date.