Writer/Director David O. Russell has become one of the most prestigious names in Hollywood. He chooses his own projects and does so quite carefully, having only fourteen total directing credits. His track record is almost flawless, hitting on multiple genres from Three Kings to The Fighter to Silver Linings Playbook. Truly, David O. Russell is a man with imagination in Hollywood.

Sadly, his most recent venture fails to live up to the strong thematic principles it desperately wants to present.

Joy is the story of a woman who has never fully lived up to her own expectations. Joy (Jennifer Lawrence) grew up as an advantageous valedictorian looking to make something of her own. However, her unorganized family regime and continuously frustrating job hinder her talents from shining. Following a series of unfortunate events and an epiphany, she attempts to change her future by way of business and a certain invention.

Ultimately, David O. Russell’s vision never truly comes to an artful fruition even with a couple of bright spots. Every character has a certain dimension to them that is quite realistic. It’s easy to see these characters as real people. Joy has an edge to her that promotes some type, any type, of self-confidence in the viewer. Lawrence does great work to encapsulate a woman with determination despite endless responsibilities. Her father, Rudy (Robert De Niro), has strong strains of the typical De Niro character: foul-mouthed, feeble temper, etc. Still, he shines as a very likable yet off-putting dad. Ultimately, those are the only two notable characters the film has to offer. Even Bradley Cooper’s talents are squandered as a one-note businessman with no discernibly notable traits or character moments.

Despite those fatal missteps, the film’s first act is as promising as ever. It keeps the audience engaged by way of typical David O. Russell mechanisms of wit, character interaction, and style. Then, as soon as the film starts to kick off towards a main plot, it loses its flavor. Every dilemmas characters are forced to face are dull, it becomes about money and production not personality and drive. This very robotic lead up and finish are so distant from what O. Russell is known for. Even the script’s genuine and hilarious dialogue is lost by the second act.

David O. Russell clearly wanted to create a film that told the theme of a woman achieving success in a primarily man’s world. His use of Joy as a character to cut through the business world is fascinating yet it is told in a very poor manner. He crafts an outline but fails to fill it in with much of anything.

Aside from a couple of intriguing characters and a Scorsese-esque shot pattern, there is little to find in this film. Joy slowly devolves into a turbid, flimsy film lacking in captivating storytelling.

5/10