The Miracle Mop's inventor comes to life in this fitfully joyful movie.
Joy
Grade: B
Director: David O. Russell (Silver Linings)
Screenplay: Russell
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle), Robert De Niro (Raging Bull)
Rating: PG-13
Runtime:
by John DeSando
Based on a true story, Joy depicts the rise of the titular female inventor and entrepreneur, Jennifer Lawrence, who rose to fame by hawking her Miracle Mop on QVC. The story is much more than about business success, for Joy is a 1970’s housewife who supports four generations in her house, including her ex-husband, Tony (Edgar Ramirez).
One of the strengths is the sympathetic but realistic tale of more than one failure by a woman who has had enough of it early on in her life.
That she is a woman is a card never played by director David O. Russell, who could have legitimately called on it in a time when Joan Rivers and a few other accomplished women were just beginning to break through the ceiling.
Neal (Bradley Cooper), the producer of QVC, gives her the first break, but not because she’s a beautiful, albeit untried inventor, but because she can sell him on her mop. Even with a businessman father, Joy has serious business setbacks that would have crushed a lesser human. But she is resilient and resistant to awkward attempts to direct her business by an unauthorized sister and his dad’s wealthy girlfriend, among others.
Although Russell has danced through several dramatic and comedic hits, most with Lawrence and Cooper, I can’t remember his intruding the drama with awkward voice over narration by Joy’s grandmother (Diane Ladd). The smooth-running film didn’t need help from a voice, even if it projects into the future to explain Joy’s success to come.
Joy is a solid drama peppered with humor and a fine ensemble: De Niro is no stranger to playing a conflicted father with a big heart, and Ramirez does a good Bobby Cannavale from Venezuela.
John DeSando, a Los Angeles Press Club first-place winner for National Entertainment Journalism, hosts WCBE’s It’s Movie Time and co-hosts Cinema Classics. Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.rr.com
