Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring but uneven drama about Miracle Mop inventor.
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Why Age 14+?
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Joy
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say this movie features strong performances but suffers from a lack of engaging writing, resulting in a mix of inspiring themes about perseverance and creativity overshadowed by a dull narrative. Despite its inspirational message and appropriate content for older children, some viewers found the film to be too stressful or boring, making it difficult for younger audiences to connect with the story.
- strong performances
- lack of engagement
- inspiring themes
- appropriate content
- stress for children
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
JOY Mangano (Jennifer Lawrence) has always had an inventive mind. As a child, she built entire worlds and sought to make them real. But as the saying goes, life has a way of making other plans: When Joy's parents divorce, she and her half-sister are torn apart, making tensions between them worse. Though Joy graduated as her class valedictorian and got into college, she never went -- she was too busy taking care of her dysfunctional family. So when she has a eureka moment and comes up with the idea for the Miracle Mop, she's excited and ready to take on the challenge of getting it made and selling it. And quite a challenge it is.
Is It Any Good?
Director David O. Russell's signature kinetic charm is at play here, but this movie falls short of greatness. Lawrence delivers a brilliant performance, backed by an unimpeachable cast that includes Robert De Niro as Mangano's father, Isabella Rossellini as his girlfriend, and Bradley Cooper as a QVC genius.
But the meandering, over-long script is all over the place, and Russell's jazzy genius -- which lofted previous films -- feels a bit like a shortcut here. Joy never quite finds its center. Still, Joy's rags-to-riches -- with a load of obstacles in turn -- is inarguably inspiring.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fact that Joy is a true story. How accurate do you think it is to what actually happened? Why might filmmakers choose to tweak the truth in movies based on real life?
How does the movie depict Joy's journey? What's the takeaway? How does she demonstrate perseverance? Why is this an important character strength?
The movie pays a lot of attention to how the Miracle Mop was invented; is this commercialism or not?
Why do you think Joy puts up with her difficult family? Is she being a martyr,In or does she simply have a different way of handling her relatives?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 25, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : May 3, 2016
- Cast : Jennifer Lawrence , Robert De Niro , Bradley Cooper
- Director : David O. Russell
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 124 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brief strong language
- Award : Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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