So with Beppe's and Giavoni's (Which was very good by the way) for dinner the next hurdle was which film to pick. I knew I wasn't going to see Die Hard. This was date night on or around her Birthday. I was in for a Romantic Comedy and I knew it.
Silver Linings Playbook it was. I had no expectations, and was simply going for a date. For me this was more about being with my wife. I was somewhat surprised that the theatre was packed. This film had been playing for quite a while really. We got good seats, even so, which also surprised me. I was with my wife, I had popcorn, and I had root beer. So all was good with the world it seemed.
As we settled into the film, and I started to realize that I was kind of enjoying it. I instantly fell in love with Bradly Coopers' character Pat. He was weird, and 'tick' filled. No not the bugs. He is depressed yet wildly energetic. I saw a 180 degree change from his usual 'party frat boy good looking and he knows it guy role'. Pat was a broken man. He had serious mental health issues. He was still good looking, but it was not central in the role. Although I have to say I found myself staring at his piercing blue eyes.
Pat is released into the custody of his parents ( Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver), after spending 8 months in a mental hospital. This is of course against Doctors recommendation.
Pat ended up in the hospital after finding his wife in the shower with another man. Pat snaps and beats the man. Obviously this is the readers digest version.
After his release Pat thinks he can 'get better' and re-unite with his estranged wife. He spends most of the film with this goal in mind. Then Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). Tiffany just lost her husband, and is equally challenged as least with mental health issues, albeit vastly different, She is in turmoil trying to over come her issues. She plays, beautifully, the smoldering angst, and emotionally hurt while remaining mysterious and strangely attractive even with the aspects of her brokenness. I suppose her natural beauty goes a long way with that. The same could be said about Pat. I suppose this would be my only negative. This film might not work if the actors were not visions of beauty. That and Nikki's (Pat's wife) reaction or lack there of when she sees Pat for the first time after his release.
Both Tiffany and Pat find a common bond and an instant attraction to each other (even if Pat is desperately trying to hold on to the goal of repairing his marriage). They both have issues they are trying to resolve, and that draws them to each other. What I liked is they (the film) didn't dwell on the stakes too highly. Yes, if Pat messes up, he supposedly was going to have to go back to the hospital. Of course Pat messes up, although his mistakes are not end of the world mistakes; I like how the film gave the issue of mental illness a wide berth. It was dealt with in love. In humor. In terms that made the issues that Pat and Tiffany had to deal with in a light at the end of tunnel way. It wasn't depressing, and I found that I loved the film.
So long story short, I was pleasantly surprised in how much I enjoyed this film. Plus I now read that it is also Oscar worthy. So Jennifer Lawrence is that good. Plus she is a joy to watch on screen. As was Bradley Cooper, blue eyes and all...
