The disappointingly empty dramedy Joy traces the story of housewife Joy Mangano (Jennifer Lawrence), who invented the Miracle Mop sold on QVC and became a business success despite the gravity pull of her dysfunctional family.
Why doesn’t this movie work? One pivotal scene illustrates the problem. At this point, her business has imploded, she’s entangled in a hopeless legal morass, and everyone is urging her to file for bankruptcy. She’s facing family disgrace, and she tells her daughter that she’s giving up. But WE KNOW there’s no chance that Joy is really going to give up. We know that Jennifer Lawrence is going to kick ass to a triumphant conclusion. So there’s no tension, and therefore no drama.
Lawrence is very good, and I can generally watch her read a telephone book. The rest of the cast, which includes Bradley Cooper in a brief role, is just fine. But Joy’s slalom course through all her emotionally unhealthy relatives just isn’t very compelling.
Director David O. Russell has previously made two brilliantly entertaining movies with Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro – Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. This ain’t them.