Joy (2015)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Joy is anchored by a strong performance from Jennifer Lawrence, although director David O. Russell's uncertain approach to its fascinating fact-based tale only sporadically sparks bursts of the titular emotion.
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Cast
as Joy
as Rudy
as Neil Walker
as Tony
as Mimi
as Terry
as Trudy
as Peggy
as Jackie
as Danica
as Clarinda
as Ridge
as Priscilla
as Louis-Touissant
as Mop Executive
as Tony's Father
as Roderick
as Sharon
as Joan Rivers
as Cindy
as Cramp-Young Joy
as Young Jackie
as Young Peggy
as Cristy 5 Years Old
as Cristy 5 Years Old
as Tommy 3 Years Old
as Tommy 3 Years Old
as Bartholomew
as Bell-Angry Airline Customer
as Airline Customer
as Susan
as Airline Customer Service Clerk
as Airline Supervisor
as Monsignor
as Andre
as College Party Band
as College Party Band
as College Party Band
as College Party Band
as College Party Goer
as College Party Goer
as Divorce Mediator
as Boat Captain
as Tino
as Latin Priest
as Eucaria
as Charlie
as Parking Lot Woman
as Parking Lot Women
as Parking Lot Women
as Parking Lot Women
as Angela
as Angela's Brother
as Angela's Brother
as Parking Lot Officer
as Receptionist
as Marv Brickman
as Patsy
as Boardroom Reps
as Boardroom Reps
as Boardroom Reps
as Thomas
as Roger from Wardrobe
as Todd
as Rifle Man
as Sarina Kimball
as Lori
as Dr. Whitten
as Funeral Priest
as Eerie Fabri-Pac Guy
as Gregory
as Gerhardt
as Eerie Fabri-Pac Guy
as Police Officer
as Police Officer
as Ray Cagney
as Front Desk Clerk
as Dallas Man
as Lead Diller Attorney
as Diller Attorney
as Rudy's Attorney
as Teen Cristy
as Teen Tommy
as Young Memphis Woman
News & Interviews for Joy
Critic Reviews for Joy
All Critics (251) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (149) | Rotten (102)
The movie's a shambles, alternatingly agreeable and aggravating, held together by our interest in its heroine and by Lawrence's tremendously sympathetic performance.
Russell is almost totally uninterested in the story of how Joy Mangano explored a bizarre and unknown new business model and became its first self-made tycoon, and as a result we aren't interested either.
Two years after Jennifer Lawrence appeared in David O. Russell's American Hustle, she gets to show some.
Joy can be viewed as a modern day rags-to-riches fairytale. It's Cinderella without the prince. In a way, that's part of the film's charm.
It's clear that the point here isn't people, it's payoff, emotional and otherwise.
Perhaps people who make gazillions selling housewares on The Shopping Channel deserve to be honoured; if they do, Joy is not a fitting tribute to Mangano - nor to the mop.
Audience Reviews for Joy
Russell tries so hard to lampshade the blatant artificiality (typical of a soap opera) found in this absurd, unbelievable story (based very slightly on true events) that the result is, well, pretty hard to buy and to be engaged with, even if it is enjoyable and mostly refreshing to watch.
Super Reviewer
Neither all-wet, nor joyful, "Joy" is an interesting cinematic confection. Worthwhile, but derivative -- much like Joy's mop.
Super Reviewer
The inventor of the Miracle Mop builds a business dynasty despite the obstruction of her family. Aside from a few gems, I've often found David O. Russell's accolades to be much ado about nothing, and what is true about most of his films is doubly true about this one. It's a disjointed story, with a ton of "tell" dialogue emphasizing just how awful Joy's family is, and the filmmaking is conspicuously absent of energy. For example, when Neil Walker is showing Joy the ropes, Bradley Cooper delivers the dialogue like he's in a trance, and the tracking shot is as static as any moving shot could be. Now imagine if Danny Boyle was directing an Aaron Sorkin script; what rapid-fire kick-assery would that have been. Also, the sound editing and direction was like the proverbial thumb in the frame. There were whole lines of dialogue that were clearly added in post - like fucking amateur hour nominated for awards. Overall, I don't understand why anybody like David O. Russell (outside of The Fighter, which is excellent).
Super Reviewer
Joy Quotes
| Joy: | We got here from hard work, patience, and humility. Don't think the world owes you anything because the world owes you nothing. |
| Joy: | listen to me. Never speak. On my behalf about my business. Again |
| Joy: | listen to me. Never speak. On my behalf about my business. Again. |