Review: 'Joy' inspires hope
Joy (Jennifer Lawrence). (Twentieth Century Fox)
Marcus Goh is a Singapore television scriptwriter. He’s also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. He Tweets/Instagrams at Optimarcus and writes at marcusgohmarcusgoh.com. The views expressed are his own.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 124 minutes (~2 hours)
“Joy” is a semi-biographical drama based on the life of Miracle Mop inventor Joy Mangano. It follows her rise to success as an inventor and entrepreneur despite the obstacles in her way, which include her family members. It stars Jennifer Lawrence (Joy), Robert De Niro (Rudy), Bradley Cooper (Neil Walker), Édgar Ramírez (Tony), Diane Ladd (Mimi), Virginia Madsen (Terri), Isabella Rossellini (Trudy), Elisabeth Röhm (Peggy), and Dascha Polanco (Jackie). It is rated PG-13.
“Joy” has one of the most boring descriptions ever written for a movie (really, check out the ones used for IMDB or any cinema), almost all of which leave out one critical piece of information — Joy is the inventor of the Miracle Mop. Admittedly, the blurb does fit the tone of Act One of the film, but the rest of the film quickly ramps up in terms of action, and it’s an inspiring story of a girl who sets out to chase her (unorthodox) dreams. “Joy” leaves you inspired to start your own business, which is the dream of any ambitious young person, isn’t it?
Joy (Jennifer Lawrence) and Neil Walker (Bradley Cooper). (Twentieth Century Fox)
Highlights
Mother-daughter relationships
The numerous mother-daughter relationships find parallels with each other, such as the ones between Joy and her daughter, and Joy and her grandmother, Mimi. The examples set by one generation are mirrored in the actions of the next generation, and it’s this strong family bond that gives the show its heartwarming aspect.
Relatable character
Joy is as uncertain as they come. Yet she carries this indefatigable sense of hope, and it’s this aspect of her character that makes us both relate to her and root for her. She reminds us of how we can be both doubtful but optimistic when it comes to chasing our dreams. Ultimately, we want to see Joy succeed because she genuinely wants to make the world a better place.
90s setting is well done
The sets carry a nostalgic charm to them, as they remind us of an era where anything seemed possible and success came explosively and frequently. They reflect Joy’s positivity and attitude, and act as a secondary catalyst for her drive and energy.
Story comes full circle
The film closes poetically, giving us an ending that’s reminiscent of Joy’s greatest trials. It also sees her maturation into a woman of stature who hasn’t forgotten her humble roots. It sees her gaining confidence without losing her sincerity, making us glad to see that her altruism hasn’t been dampened by commercialism.
Rudy (Robert De Niro) and his daughter, Joy. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Letdowns
Jennifer Lawrence’s performance needs more refinement
Joy’s angry scenes are muted and forced. If there’s one emotion that Jennifer Lawrence can’t deliver, it’s anger. Her performance is usually tightly restrained, which works for Joy’s character, but it’s impossible for her to emote past a certain intensity. Her emotions need to be larger without being over the top, for her to be more believable and watchable.
Lacks resolution for the antagonists
The story unfolds in a way that almost mandates a confrontation between Joy and the antagonists of the film. This never occurs, and we’re left with a sense that the antagonists of the story have gotten away with their actions. This unresolved catharsis nags at you even through the ending, which is otherwise rather inspirational.
Very slow start
The film takes forever to begin, laying the ground in small, incremental steps. This sleepy start could have been cut to a third, since all the necessary information to understand the character relationships is reinforced throughout the conflicts and other plot developments.
Tony (Édgar Ramírez) and Joy. (Twentieth Century Fox)
“Joy” suffers from a slothful start, but still manages to tell a rags-to-riches tale that anyone can relate to. Its complicated web of relationships also add to its groundedness and authenticity, reflecting the real-life difficulties that entrepreneurs frequently face.
Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? Sure, but you can skip the first third.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? OK.
“Joy” opens in cinemas 7 January, 2015 (Thursday).
