Pat (Bradley Cooper) has just been released after spending eight months in a mental hospital for almost beating to death his wife's lover. The incident triggered a largely dormant bi-polar tendency inside of him. While his father (Robert DeNiro) thinks that Pat could have spent a little more time in the hospital his mother (Jacki Weaver) thought it was time for him to re assimilate into society. Forced to go to therapy, Pat remains under the impression that his wife still loves him and that he must find the silver lining in life and get her back, despite a strong restraining order. But a friend introduces him to his wife's sister Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who, despite not going to a mental hospital) has some serious issues ever since her husband died. They bond over their respective problems and then enter a dance competition.
Wait, what? Yeah, it sounds like screenwriting 101 where the teacher tells you there needs to be a climax where the characters work towards something and can change their lives around through the moment. Is it predictable? Yes, but it is still amazing and it is because of a clever script and an excellent cast.
Who would've guessed Bradley Cooper was so good? I remember him as the bad guy from Wedding Crashers and then the goodlooking one on The Hangover. But here we have a powerful, powerful performance that is certainly worthy of an Oscar. At the same time Jennifer Lawrence is way better than I have ever given her credit for. I know she was decent and that she has a wonderful personality (seriously watch any of her interviews) but I never knew that she could act. Well she can. She can do it very well and she can hold her own against Cooper and DeNiro who is playing one of the best characters he has in a long time. Throw in a mentally unstable Chris Tucker and you have a fantasmic cast that just gets better as the film progresses.
There are some parts of the film that kind of detract from it. There's a whole betting/Philadelphia Eagles subplot that seems important at sometimes and at others feels shoehorned in. The whole situation that leads to the end, while supposedly being the inciting incident, just feels random. They needed the story to progress so they kind of just put it in. It isn't bad, it just feels out of place.
But all is forgiven. I laughed and I very nearly cried as well. My Oscar for basically all the categories it has been nominated in. Their respectful yet revealing treatment of mental disease and finding unexpected love is a moving tale and shouldn't be classified as just a rom-com.
This is grade-A drama and you should go see it.
3 1/2 out of 4 stars
-Christopher O'Connell
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