Don't come in expecting joy...that for sure

Rating: Null/10 (11 February 2016)

Well...after collaborating with Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper twice before this one, director David O Russell casts them (in a nail-on-the-head kinda fashion, as he is wont to, since flirting with the mainstream in 'The Fighter') as an inventor, her family members and a business partner, with this one, with the misleading title meant to be ironic, since the life of our protagonist has anything but joy....
Always 1-upped by her selfish parents and jealous step-sibling, the movie chronicles her tale adopting (but upping, as well) the style of movies that have chronicled long-standing suffering a lone, righteous women faces, depicted in numerous movies across geographies, but tries not to get heavy-handed with the narrative, or give short shrift to a co-lead, played with realistic, yet dignified poise by one of the most underrated actors of our time, Edgar Ramirez (the new Bodhi, Ares in 'Wrath of the Titans', 'Carlos', 'Deliver us from evil', 'The Bourne Ultimatum'). I'm not sure that many might have felt this, but I did feel that the writers could have tried to humanize the main lead more than they did, by trying to also go across any character flaws she may have had. If one were to believe all the befalls her in the course of this flick, she comes off as nothing short of a saint, and though that may be something kind that the makers wanted to do with the real life character, it also has the effect of keeping her at arm's length from its intended audience (and I'm not talking about the gullible, mainstream audience that laps this stuff up without questioning anything).
One of the perfect relationships depicted (there is more than 1) in the course of this story, is the one between JenLaw and Bradley Cooper (they also have last year's 'Serena' to their credit, in addition to David O Russell's 'Silver Linings playbook' & 'American Hustle'), and a lot of people I watched this with expected their characters to align themselves romantically, an urge that the writers did not succumb to, in spite of the many mis-steps they do make. Another relationship that seems close to being realistic is the one JenLaw shares with her father, played by De Niro, who's not the greatest of husbands, but is a decent father, who tries treating both of his children from 2 different wives the same, even at the cost of perhaps being wrong, and choosing the wrong person for a few key responsibilities. However, depicting that is something all actors (including Elizabeth Rohm, also in 'American Hustle') do well, with O Russell's able guidance, of course (in spite of what I referred to about the distance from the main lead).
The is not O Russell at his best, but is definitely much better than how it might have turned out if it were directed by someone more mainstream. JenLaw being good is not a surprise anymore, but for me, she seems to be doing her schtick, which, is a disappointment of sorts, since she's definitely both gifted, and someone who can make an effort. However, with the exception of 'American Hustle', once again, to me, she seems to be playing herself in every flick she gets to be a part of, and not as versatile as, say, Meryl Streep, to whom she's often compared to, doing Streep herself a disservice. In any case, she's young, and perhaps can try many more different things over the course of her career.
One of the best things this movie does, is in showing a few of the insiders at work in the industry populated by inventors and their representatives in the tele-shopping networks. I do wish they had some more meat in that department, but what's on display here might not have been seen earlier on screen (or perhaps I'm missing those movies which did depict this phenomenon).
In any case, watching this movie is time well spent, though I did have greater expectations going in, that were not completely met.