I recently had the opportunity to attend the advanced screening of Jennifer Lawrence’s newest film, ‘Joy,’ based loosely on the life of Joy Mangano. I’m a huge movie buff, so when I received the invite, with no hesitation, I RSVP’ed with an immediate yes.
Three things interested me about this film. One, Joy Mangano coincidentally has the same last name as my fiance, so maybe I’ll be joining her extended family (just kidding, there’s no relation). Two, the movie was shot in Boston last February (Wilmington, to be exact), so of course I had to see if I recognized any of the scenery. And three, from briefly reading about Joy’s life and achievements, I knew I’d most likely be walking out of the theater with some inspiration to get my own life goals in check.
For those not familiar with Joy Mangano, she’s an inventor and entrepreneur from New York, known for her inventions such as the Miracle Mop and Huggable Hangers. The film focuses mainly on the beginning of her life and the struggles involved in building her business empire.
While watching the film, I can say that this isn’t Jennifer Lawrence’s best work. And definitely not Bradley Cooper’s either. Because let’s be real… for these two, nothing can beat ‘Silver Linings Playbook.’
But while Lawrence has definitely done better, I will say that myself (and those that also attended the screening) appreciated and enjoyed the film’s story. Even though it was corny at times (think power walks with hair blowing in the wind and not-so-casually putting on sunglasses), it shows that building a prosperous business isn’t just due to overnight success.
Do I recommend seeing this film? Yes. It comes out on Christmas Day and is the perfect flick to watch with the fam.
Oscar-winning? No.