This movie was nominated for many awards from Oscars to Golden Globe awards. Jennifer Lawrence won best actress in a few of the award circles. The movie, like the book follows Pat on his escapades after a short stint in a mental institution. Robert De Niro plays his father and does a good job in this comedic yet serious role. Pat has a little bit of a violent history and we see a scratch on his nose through out the movie that remains unexplained but adds to the aloofness of the character. Chris Tucker cameo’s as a friend from the mental institution who keeps trying to get released.
Pat was separated and he repeats over and over again and in many ways, how much he loves his wife and wants to get back together with her. Enter Tiffany played by Jennifer Lawrence. They meet on a jogging trip and have a tenuous relationship throughout the film. She lost her husband in an accident and is also having mental issues. As the female lead in the story, she has relationship issues with Pat. Unlike many other comedies, she is cast as pursuing the relationship at times. In other words, there is no wooing per-say as many romantic comedies start out.
The story is really great in that respect. The two actors have good chemistry and the plot keeps them embroiled in each others affairs. Tiffany wants them to enroll in a dance competition and although Pat is against the idea, they make a trade. She helps him get in contact with his wife whom he can’t go near due to a restraining order and he becomes her dancing partner. We also meet Pat’s brother who is a Philadelphia Eagles fan just like his Dad and Pat. The football team plays a part in the storyline in more ways than one. All the actors put on great performances that allow the movie to show the light-hearted side of the complicated and often misunderstood issue of mental illness.
There are a few points in the movie that allow us deeper insight into the characters illnesses. For example, Pats friend Danny talks in an obscure sort of way and at the same time shows that he has an ability to have normal relationships. Pat comes home and Danny is watching TV with his Dad and Mother like he is back to normal. He is then ushered off back to the mental institution. This shows a reality of mental illnesses. Even though a patient may have positive feelings about his or her own health, the system often has a different opinion.
Pat at first doesn’t take his medications, but after a discussion with his father he starts taking them regularly. We see that he has a lot of pride in himself and the confidence to do what he wants. Although Pat has scenes that make him look unstable, by the end of the movie we get the feeling that he is as normal and healthy as he needs to be.
Even though the ending is like most other romantic comedies, “Silver Linings Playbook” still holds its own in a unique way that many other movies don’t. It shows Pat had to heal from his mental issues just like someone with a physical disease would have to. This is often what is misunderstood and stereotyped about people with mental illnesses. That for some reason, because their actions and thoughts are not normal, they don’t have the ability to live like other people. When in fact, with the right care they can have fulfilling lives. This movie takes that idea and shows us the hope people with mental illnesses have, hence the name “Silver Linings Playbook” which means that there is a strategy to looking on the bright side of things for Pat.
