Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

The critic sees the film as a refreshing late addition to screwball comedy that offers a nervy, abrasive and touchingly romantic take on mental illness. Jennifer Lawrence is a complete revelation and the scene-by-scene texture is enthralling.

Russell’s ensemble comedy about two head cases finding equilibrium through romance is sweet and satisfying with vibrant performances, though the happy ending feels cheap and overly conventional for the mental-health material.

The critic praises how the film navigates tonal shifts between comedy and drama without feeling forced or eye-rolling, highlighting the strong ensemble cast's ability to blend humor with portrayals of mental illness.

The critic calls it a genuinely unusual, bittersweet romance with terrific choreography and career-changing performances from Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. They highlight the offbeat love story and the surprising ballroom-dance-off climax.

The critic finds the film zips along on off-beat energy and a fast-paced script that is funny and honest about mental health. They single out the sparky, intelligent acting, especially from Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.

The critic finds the film a romcom laced with abrasive grit about two troubled people seeking redemption. It is deliciously acted and smartly scripted, though not as audacious as it might have been and it implies bipolarity can be cured by love.

The film’s emotional disequilibrium suits Russell; Cooper is scary-pure but Lawrence’s layered weirdness knocks the critic sideways. It ends on a conventional rom-com note after a discombobulating ride.

The critic notes the film’s unique, beguiling qualities and the strong performances from Bradley Cooper and especially Jennifer Lawrence that sell its bold heart. They observe it normalizes the protagonist’s condition while eventually turning toward the conventional with a dance competition plot.

The critic notes the film is a blue-collar underdog story that is tonally awkward at times and harder to root for than Russell's previous work, but praises Jennifer Lawrence as a standout. It fuses comedy and pathos unevenly but demonstrates her maturing skillset.

The film is a calculated, on-the-nose prestige rom-com that reduces mental illness to marketable quirk and contrivances; its charm is seductive but ultimately disingenuous and conventional despite the ensemble.

Russell’s sort-of comedy is pretty much a miscalculation from beginning to end; the hero is mainly just silly and infantile. Things improve a bit when Jennifer Lawrence shows up, but the rhythms are off and the movie nags at you.

The film is rich in life’s complications and a complete success from a singular talent who brings intensity and passion to the proceedings. Russell’s gift for smart, honest and unexpected dialogue and situations keeps you off-balance in an almost addictive way.

The critic praises Russell’s smart script and the film’s ability to deliver a feelgood romcom about love without descending into cuteness or schmaltz. They highlight the strong, likeable performances by Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence as the central mismatched couple.

David O. Russell alternates between comedy and psychological drama in this hugely enjoyable film about a bipolar man released from a mental institution who connects with a young widow. The critic praises the director's ability to retain a comic tone while engaging with the characters' pains and anxieties, and singles out Jennifer Lawrence's depth and pathos in the role of Tiffany.

Russell returns to off-kilter comedy with an odd but charming film about ordinary people’s struggles and obsessions. It showcases strong ensemble work, particularly from Cooper and Lawrence, with genuine vulnerability amid the quirk.

The exuberant film does almost everything right as it tracks the feverish ups and downs of a head case named Pat returning from a mental institution. Russell is a virtuoso of chaos who maintains supreme command over a movie that teeters on the edge of hysteria.

Silver Linings Playbook has enough corn, contrivance and cheap sentiment to power a midsummer rom-com, appearing as a sheep in wolf’s clothing beneath its serio-comic surface. The critic notes it is buoyed by US reviews but finds it ultimately a bundle of matted fleece, while praising Jennifer Lawrence as the sole glittering element.

The critic calls it one of the best films of the year, commending the nuanced handling of family turmoil and mental health alongside standout performances from Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence that ground the rom-com elements.

An enormously entertaining, crowd-pleasing winner with big heart, hilarious comedy and real emotional stakes. Cooper and Lawrence give career-best, awards-worthy performances in a focused yet vibrant film.

The critic highlights Bradley Cooper's best performance to date in a deliriously funny and poignant love story, praising the sharp banter, chemistry with Jennifer Lawrence, and David O. Russell's screwball approach.

Russell's film is a revealing look into a very American family that captures spirit of place with unsightly nuances rarely seen in Hollywood. The world feels authentic and mental illness is confronted directly rather than ignored.

The critic calls the film an extraordinary balancing act that succeeds despite its difficult premise of mixing mental illness, ballroom dancing, and football fandom into a romantic comedy. Russell is singled out for drawing strong, empathetic performances from the entire cast, including Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro.

The film is a sharply comic and surprisingly sweet take on mental illness and dysfunctional families, with strong performances and unfiltered dialogue that highlight the chemistry between Cooper and Lawrence. It delivers crowd-pleasing entertainment without challenging viewers too much.

The film is a bruising, surprisingly touching and frequently funny bulldozer. Cooper and Lawrence deliver tremendous, award-worthy performances that drive the story.

Russell deftly mines comic nuance from mental illness with a top-notch cast, dancing dialogue, and earnestness, resulting in a revelatory turn from Cooper and strong work from Lawrence. Minor flaws like an extraneous character do not detract from the satisfying whole.