A Not So Simple Review of Silver Linings Playbook
Written By: Gabriella Tiffany
This is one of those films where it is impossible to emotionally or mentally prepare for before viewing. One feels just the same walking into and out of the theatre, excited and maybe a tad confused. (Warning: a lot of spoiler alerts… or pretty much a summary of the whole movie to be more exact.) Meet Pat: A 30 something guy who has just been released from the psychiatric ward in Philadelphia. He was sent there after brutally beating up the man he caught his wife cheating with. He is obsessed with his ex-wife, Nikki, who has a restraining order against him. From being released from the ward, he is set on the idea of a fresh start. He may sometimes neglect on taking his psychotropic medicine because they make him “nauseous and bloated” but he still wants to start anew. He also is still coping with flashbacks of the incident and dealing with a minor bipolar disorder, however he has convinced himself that he is perfectly fine. He lost a lot of weight and got fit, attained a new motto “Excelsior,” meaning higher, and is determined on winning his ex-wife back through hard work and determination (what restraining order?) What on earth could get in his way? Meet Tiffany: a mid-20’s girl who has also suffered recent trauma. She lost her husband about a year ago in a car accident and feels responsible for his death. She copes with the guilt by frequently sleeping around. She is a passionate dancer and falls madly in love with Pat, but is conflicted on how to act upon her emotions because of Pat’s withstanding obsession with Nikki. Solution to both of their problems: Tiffany comes up with a plan that if Pat will be her partner in a dancing competition she will give Nikki a secret letter that Pat has written. He reluctantly agrees and goes through the process of choreographing a dance with Tiffany. As time goes on, their interest for each other grows, but Pat is still determined to win Nikki back. Tiffany never gave Nikki the letter, but instead she pretends to do so and crafts a fake response acting as Nikki. Finally on the night of their recital, all of Pat and Tiffany’s family have come to support them…including Nikki. Pat and Tiffany dance, and although their finishing score is rather low, their family couldn’t be more than happy for them because of what they accomplished. After the rejoicing ends, Tiffany watches as Pat goes over to talk to Nikki for the first time since he was committed. Tiffany mistakes his conversing with Nikki as rejection and immediately leaves the recital. Pat hears that she has left and rushes out into the cold to find her. Upon finding her he gives her a letter that confesses his love for her, and how he has loved her all this time. They passionately kiss and the movie closes with a very happy ending. A fantastic movie, to say the least. Like I stated, it’s a film that one cannot prepare for, because even after seeing this movie, I am still unable to categorize it. It is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, think, question and might even get angry at. Once you see it, you’ll understand why I can’t call it a romantic comedy. While it may definitely seem like one, it’s really anything but. You won’t regret it. Just go watch it. Please. |