There was one reaction I heard from several individuals after they had seen Silver Linings Playbook that got my attention: “I didn’t even realize it was a romantic comedy until the end!” Of course when I say “individuals” I mean other dudes, and I take the comment to be a complimentary one, meaning that the movie was so enjoyable that it shouldn’t even be thought of in the same generic context as some Kate Hudson vehicle. It’s possible that guys seem to like a movie like this one because its leading character is played by Bradley Cooper, a dude with some real meat cred.
The deception is part of the film’s core strength, which is that it’s a seemingly honest depiction of a man struggling to overcome some mental health issues and delusions and find some semblance of peace. In a world where the person who does it all on their own is this noble ambition to strive for, Pat represents the part of all of us that is often too proud or stubborn to ask for help when we need it. I appreciated that this movie exposes the falseness of the idea that any of us can be completely independent of one another. The fact that Pat and Tiffany’s relationship is centered on a collaborative project is a testament to some of the best features of romance, while the combination of their idiosyncratic traits makes for some seriously funny comedy.
Continue reading on the next page…
