I Want to Buy One of Those Mops!

Rating: Null/10 (1 June 2016)

"Joy" begins slowly in the depiction of a seriously dysfunctional family. The strongest bond is that of the caring grandmother named Mimi (Diane Ladd) and her granddaughter Joy (Jennifer Lawrence). Mimi is the film's narrator, who describes the ebb-and-flow pattern of Joy's failed marriage and stormy family relationships.
The film begins to pick up steam when Joy doggedly pursues the marketing of her invention of a new style of mop. In many respects, the mop was one of the highlights of this film because it truly was a unique invention: efficient, durable, hygienic.
Jennifer Lawrence is terrific as the tenacious inventor, who must deal with shady entrepreneurs and colleagues who undermine her efforts. But the film stretched credibility in the depiction of her family members who are both gullible and antagonistic to Joy. The father figure, as played by Robert DeNiro, was especially troubling in his mean-spirited and cruel treatment of his daughter. The character of the half-sister was simply determined to ruin Joy. And what about the mother, as played by Virginia Madsen? It was difficult to believe that she would be portrayed as negligent and reclusive, yet she begins a romantic relationship with the plumber! And all of these family members are living under the same roof!
Overall, "Joy" was a lightweight film that never made a strong statement about the American Dream or the cutthroat world of business. This was principally a showcase for the talents of Jennifer Lawrence, who carried the film on her shoulders from start to finish. She certainly sold me on the unique features of the mop!