Joy
- Review Date: December 25, 2015
- Rated: PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- Release Year: 2015
- Running Time: 124 minutes
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What parents need to know
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Joy is a drama based on the real-life Joy Mangano (Jennifer Lawrence), inventor of the Miracle Mop. There are lots of highs and lows in her story -- including a dysfunctional family, financial insecurity, and a deep desire to fulfill dreams deferred -- which makes it a better fit for older viewers. But Joy is an inspiring person, and the content itself isn't too edgy; there's some swearing (mostly on the milder side, but there's one "f--k"), arguing, drinking (usually socially), kissing, and innuendo -- and, of course, a heavy emphasis on the best-selling Miracle Mop product. A dream sequence includes a kidnapping.
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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 JOY 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. The movie never quite finds its center. Still, Joy's rags-to-riches -- with a load of obstacles in turn -- is inarguably inspiring.
Families can talk 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?
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
| Theatrical release date: | December 25, 2015 |
| DVD release date: | May 3, 2016 |
| Cast: | Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper |
| Director: | David O. Russell |
| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Character strengths: | Perseverance |
| Run time: | 124 minutes |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | brief strong language |
| Awards/Honors: | Golden Globe |
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Uninteresting.
Fantastic gripping movie; to complex for younger viewers.
"Never speak, on my behalf, about my business, again."
