Joy

"Joy" involves the narrative of a family spanning four generations. Its main storylines, however, focus on the young girl Joy (played by Jennifer Lawrence), who establishes a corporate empire on her own.

Joy juggles familial duties as a daughter, mother, ex-wife, and employee. Selfless and somewhat of a pushover, she ultimately cracks and vows to change into the person she feels she was always intended to be: the inventor and matriarch. And at that point, she creates the self-wringing mop.

Joy becomes a genuine family and business leader after experiencing betrayal, deceit, the loss of innocence, and the wounds of love. Allies become foes, and foes become friends; both inside and beyond her household, Joy's inner world and vivid imagination have kept her strong through all of the storms she has to endure.

In spite of the choppy narrative and a script devoid of O. Russell's usual sizzle, the film's middle section is what really grabs your attention: the scene where Joy produces and then sells her innovation, the knowledge of the phenomenon of teleshopping, and Joy's transformation into a shrewd career woman. This upbeat, often humorous narrative is Jennifer Lawrence's show through and through, as she unflinchingly waves the flag for feminist movements, enterprise, and family.

Year of Release: 2015

Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert de Niro

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 60%