Good, but not great

Rating: 7/10 (29 December 2015)

Good, but not great. Well-intentioned, but flawed. Starts off very interestingly and engagingly, with many amusing moments. However, the story becomes more trite and predictable the longer it goes on. Plus, the plot isn't water-tight.
I was expecting something darker and more character-based, rather than light and plot-based.
It's the great performances that lift this movie to above the average. Jennifer Lawrence deserved her Oscar, as did Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver their nominations.
Not as good as I was expecting it to be, but not bad either.