The Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy-drama that is adapted from the novel of the same name. It tells the story of Pat (played by Bradley Cooper) who starts off the film in a mental health facility. Eight months earlier, Pat walked in on his wife, Nicky, cheating on him and violently beat the man who she was with.
The film begins when Pat’s mother arrives to remove him from the facility and take him home. Pat is convinced that he and his wife are still in love and will get back together, despite the fact that he can’t actually contact her to due to a strict restraining order.
He starts to see his old friends again and is introduced to Tiffany (played by Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence), whose husband has died. The pair strike up an unlikely friendship and Pat decides to help Tiffany by being her partner in a dance competition, in exchange for her delivering letters from Pat to his wife Nikki.
Both Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence put in amazing performances and with awards season coming up, it is likely the pair will do well. There is also a stand-out performance from Robert De Niro, who plays Pat’s father. His storyline of OCD and obsessive gambling is a little unnecessary but as it’s De Niro, we can forgive it.
Overall this is an oddball, feel-good film. It is highly enjoyable, if a little slow at times, and is arguably one of the best films of 2012.
[rating=4]
