Without Jennifer Lawrence, there would be no Joy. Joy lags until Bradley Cooper enters and sparks fly between him and Jennifer Lawrence, then they fizzle and the film snores on. Boring. Great cast, but no flow of energy. De Niro is ho hum while Isabella Rossellini as his love interest oddly enough gives this film life. Rossellini has the energy missing throughout this film. Diane Ladd has a small thankless role as Joy's grandmother though she is a delight to watch.
This is the story of four generations of women and how Joy Mangano becomes a millionaire inventing a mop. It is clear the Joy Mangano has had a hand in the production of this film not only because she is given a producing credit, but because her character is handled with kid gloves. Enough.
David Russell, director, wanted to do a woman's film, but please couldn't he have done a better one. His ego directed this and brought out great actors which a film does not make. Joy does not flow, but is a series of vignettes glued together to force the viewer to watch this dull saga. Sure we root for a woman heroine, but it is Russell who has given us such a bad script with no umph. No pizazz. No caring. You just do not care about Joy Mangano or her family. Isabella Rossellini is fire and ignites the curious romance between De Niro and her that begins with a phone call, but the rest of the characters remain beige in appeal or caring,
Anna Mumolo wrote this tedious story so slanted to glorify producer Joy Mangano.
Actors Edgar Ramirez, Virginia Madsen and Diane Ladd are all excellent in this saga, unfortunately its script is pasted together with crazy glue. I love women's films about survivors, but a film has to show all sides of the story not just the protagonist in this case Joy Mangano. Joan Rivers is portrayed by her daughter Melissa Rivers who outshines the entire cast.
Joy is an example of how star power does not make a film. De Niro as Joy's father does not carry the film and his role is one more dull character. Slim chances for Jennifer Lawrence getting an Oscar for this film though she is terrific. It is Joy that is the loser. Skip it.!