Least that can be said the better except it's remarkably underwhelming. Lawrence acquits herself none-the-less.

Rating: 7/10 (13 January 2016)

JOY (2015) **1/2 Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramirez, Diane Ladd, Virginia Madsen, Isabella Rossellini, Dascha Polanco, Elisabeth Rohm, Susan Lucci, Laura Wright, Maurice Benard, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Ken Howard, Melissa Rivers. Odd David O. Russell take on the American Dream with Lawrence as the titular heroine a ne'er do-well, long suffering middle class matriarch wanna-be whose brilliant idea - a hands-free, self-wringing mop - ultimately lifts her from mediocrity into , well, a successful businesswoman. While loosely based on a true story the screenplay by Russell and Annie Mumolo is a tad too off-kilter with nary a likable character outside its lead (Lawrence acquits herself with some heavy-lifting on her slender shoulders) yet a game cast. Least that can be said the better except it's remarkably underwhelming.