MY NETFLIX MOVIE REVIEWS #54

Joy has always been fascinated by creating things; This pursuit was always supported emotionally by her maternal grandmother, Mimi. Joy feels that lack of practical support has led to others making fortunes on ideas she came up with years ago but could not act upon manufacturing. Despite being broke, Joy is the person in her extended family to whom everyone has always turned, in the process forgoing her own life, including not having attended college to help see her parents through their divorce. She works in an unsatisfying job as an Eastern Airlines ticket clerk; and lives with her mother Terry who spends all day in bed watching soap operas; her ex-husband Tony, a less than successful aspiring Latino Tom Jones wannabe; and their two children. Added to this mix is her father Rudy, the owner of a failing heavy-duty garage, which is managed by Joy's older half-sister Peggy, with whom she has somewhat of a strained relationship, and for which Joy does the books. Sharon, Rudy's latest ... Written by Huggo  (Courtesy of Internet Movie Database)

JOY is directed by David O. Russell, written by David O. Russell & Annie Mumolo, produced by John Davis, Megan Ellison, Jonathan Gordon, & Ken Mok. Being familiar with the body of work of David O. Russell I have grown to like his sensibilities as a film director. I have enjoy his comedic themes and stories as well as his flair for the dramatic which could clearly been seen in SILVERLINGS PLAYBOOK. So when I heard he had directed another film entitled JOY based on a true story using just about the same cast I knew at some point I’d have to see that film. Since watching the film I film much like I do when I see films based on reality which is I’d rather not have know as for some reason stories based on real life lack the “magic” as a viewer that fiction films carry. I know that is a strange critique, but I have felt this way about even the best films based on real life. Anyway, I also felt this film lacked the quirky comedic genius of FLIRTING WITH DISASTER or even SILVERLINGS PLAYBOOK, which I love from David O. Russell. The story is definitely an uplifting tale and I love that also each actor in the cast does great work. So for JOY I give it 4 stars.