Why care about these oddball characters

Rating: 7/10 (10 October 2012)

I was at a screening of this movie in Dallas last night. It's the story of a Pat played by Bradley Cooper who has lost everything, his marriage, house, job and has just been released from an institution where he was sent by the court because of his violent and crazy behavior after finding his wife fooling around in their shower with a coworker. He's now living with his parents and trying to return his life to some normalcy. His dad remains a large influence on his life, is also a reforming-violent character and an oddball played with restraint by Robert DeNiro. Coming in and out of the story is Chris Tucker's character another inmate of the institution whom Pat befriended who has a penchant for escaping. When he shows up he helps Pat get through emotional issues he's facing.
Pat is setup and meets Tiffany played by Jennifer Lawrence who's an oddball too with emotional issues trying to recover from the unexpected death of her husband. Tifffany pursues Pat who still has longing to return to his marriage but can't yet do so until his wife removes the restraining order against him.
At the most base level this is a story of crazy-offbeat-oddball characters who are trying to help Pat return to some sense of normal. Can Pat overcome his issues, respond to their support attempts and return to normalcy? Will he return to his wife? Will Tiffany prevail in her pursuit of Pat? The movie is has its entertaining moments and at times is emotionally rewarding to watch as the Pat, Tiffany and the others are engaging and creative in their approach to life. Lawence's portrayal of Tiffany is over the top and so crazy that as her relationship to Pat unfolds he seems a normal guy trapped in her crazy world but I was left wanting a stronger main character Pat than Cooper portrays.
After one hour of watching oddball people it was enough for me but this movie continues to throw out more crazy for another hour. Its neither crazy funny or enhancing to the story. Enough already.