I finally got around to seeing "Silver Linings Playbook" over the weekend and, for the most part, I enjoyed it. But, as a friend commented after she'd seen it, "Mental illness isn't funny." No, it isn't.
The first part of the movie is very good and Bradley Cooper certainly steps up to the plate. I actually think his performance was better than Jennifer Lawrence's, yet she's the one getting all of the praise. Whatever. Bradley brings the dysfunction and he's a better actor than people give him credit for. If you've ever dealt with anyone who's mentally ill, you know that when they get off the meds, chaos often follows. But while the first half of the movie dealt, realistically I believe, with mental illness, the movie quickly descended into Hollywood tripe with feel-good racially diverse friendships and a dance competition that, in real life, Bradley and Jennifer would never have been allowed to compete in.
Still, it was nice to see Philly and its surrounding suburbs shine, particuarly the Llanerch Diner. I used to drive past that place a lot when I lived off of City Avenue and in Delaware County.
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