Words: Russell Boaz

I am not the biggest fan of romantic comedies.  The characters are almost always gender stereotypes, the plots are always predictable and clichéd, and almost always, it is the guy who rescues the girls.  Many films, I could care not less if the couple gets together or not.  Leave it to David O. Russell (I HEART HUCKABEES, THREE KINGS, THE FIGHTER) to make an edgy romantic comedy that is far superior to any other RomCom this year or in recent years, I would go so as far asto say that SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK is one of the best films to come out this season.

The film centers around Pat (played by Bradley Cooper in one of the best roles), who has been in a mental health institution for eight months because he beat up the guy his wife was having sex with in their shower when he came home early from work.  He has also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  His mother Delores (Jacki Weaver, who you will remember from ANIMAL KINGDOM) discharges him against the medical advise of his doctors and brings him home to stay with her and his father (Robert De Niro).  Pat soon meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a girl with problems of her own and they begin to form a very odd friendship.  Pat wants to reunite with his ex-wife Nikki, who has a restraining order against him, and Tiffany agrees to help him but only if he will help her with something.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK injects a newness that has been lacking in RomComs lately.  The film is unpredictable and consistently engaging, it is a little over two hours and not once did I feel bored. I wanted these imperfect characters to succeed.  The performances are all strong, especially Jennifer Lawrence who deserves kudos for her performance as the damaged Tiffany.

Releases on 28 Feb.