Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Julia Stiles, John Ortiz and Shea Whigham. Directed by David O. Russell.★★★½
This movie is essentially a well-made romantic comedy. Quirky characters trying to find happiness. But it's so well-made, it doesn't feel formula until we get to the finale and then go "Ah." But by then we're really rooting for everyone to succeed.
Cooper gives a career-best performance as Pat, a bipolar man who's just been released to his parents' care after eight months of institutionalization. He went in for violently beating his wife's lover after catching them in the act. But "he's better now" and determined to win his wife back.
He winds up becoming friends with Tiffany (Lawrence), sister-in-law of his best friend. Tiffany has her own issues, having dealt with the death of her husband by sleeping with everyone at her office and getting herself fired.
The bizarre relationship of Pat and Tiffany works because the chemistry between Cooper and Lawrence is electric. Not only that, but Robert DeNiro as Pat's father gives his best performance in about fifteen years.
It's just a terrific feel-good movie done with more skill than usual.
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