Joy (2015)

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautifully written & feel good feeling

Oh christ this film is boring. About 30 minutes in I asked my partner when was anything going to start happening and he responded with 'I don't think it is one of those films where anything really does happen'. And he was pretty much right.Firstly, this film is about a lady who invents a new type of mop. I didn't know this before I started watching but I'm quite sure that if I had known this fact I wouldn't of bothered watching it. Let me repeat that - this film centers around the invention of a new type of mop. Yes. A mop. A mop for cleaning floors. If you like rather mundane cliched films about mops then you will love this. In the film's defense, Jennifer Lawrence was fantastic, as was De Niro (obvs) but the story simply wasn't interesting or exciting enough for such a long film - it reminded me of one of those afternoon movies on Channel 5 (UK). This film kind of reminded me of another recent film (also staring De Niro) - The Intern - which, although it wasn't an amazing film, it definitely brought me more joy than 'Joy' did.I try to find something positive in everything, even if I don't like it, so I'll give a special mention to the costume designers. I liked the costumes. There you go. That was the joy I took from this film. Pretty dresses.

Joy, the protagonist of the film carries the other characters when they can't make things work. She makes things work for all of them and us. This process is refreshingly unique in that she constantly thinks on her feet and resolves situations with surprising results. The suspense of the plot allows the audience to be involved in not only her journey but those of her family as well. Encouraging everyone to reach out for that special gift.

"...it is equally possible that she is a fatally flawed underachiever, doomed to a lifetime of failure, disappointment, unfulfilled expectations".I get why this movie has a 60% rating from audience and critics alike, however, something too great to ignore resonated with me, amid the film's irregularities and foolishness. Lines like the one above, in conjunction with it's somewhat uncommon approach, somehow melded well with me, and spoke to me.Yeah sure, there are things in this movie that just have you questioning, how or why; like Todd's mistake on live television. Why and how do you go on live television to sell a product you aren't as familiar with as you should be, then as a professional TV personality, handle that situation so appallingly? Trudy, poor, poor Trudy. It was just supposed to be a date with the old man. However, within all these "whys", I felt myself also asking; Why not?!Perhaps if this film wasn't based on true events, it would seem a bit too far fetched and disingenuous, but it was. True, being a bio is no licence to warp reality, but personally, I feel Joy captured enough actual real life realism and chaos, while not losing sight of the entertainment factor, and still remaining adequately inspirational enough, to warrant at least a messy 7.8/10...But, that is what the mop was made for; to absorb the mess, and expose the cleanliness buried underneath. Joy's life was a mess, so she mopped the floor clean with competition.