Joy

No surprise, Jennifer Lawrence is a joy.

Joy proves that director David O. Russell can make a good film about anything, including a success story about a mop. But it's not a great film.

Joy doesn’t achieve the perfection of either of his last two: Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle. Which is unfortunate for movie fans because all of his stars are reunited here: Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper.

The first half of the film sets up Joy Mangano’s tough life as a single mom caught up in the mini disappointments of life. Or should I say “many” disappointments of life, because the story stays with these for way too long.

Joy soars once our heroine takes her invention outside the home. You can’t help but root for Jennifer Lawrence as the real life inventor the Miracle Mop, the Huggable Hanger and many famous household products.

Who doesn’t enjoy an underdog story? I completely enjoyed Joy once it got to the entrepreneur story. This is the rare film that gets better in the second hour.

Ticket buyers beware: the film’s tone does not match the joyful holiday vibe of the winter-fabulous poster

Simply put: It’s a fine film, but it’s not one of the year’s (or David O. Russell’s) best.

Award potential: Like the QVC mop inventor she plays, Jennifer Lawrence can sell us anything. Bet on a Oscar nomination for her, but not the movie or director. She’ll clean up in the Golden Globes comedy category.

The ten buck review: Worth ten bucks.