Silver Linings Playbook

Put aside his dubious on-the-set reputation, and David O. Russell has emerged as one of the most versatile filmmakers working today, with a particular knack for finding genuine humor in potentially delicate subject matter.

The latest example is Silver Linings Playbook, a terrific ensemble comedy about mental illness that achieves just the right balance of humor and poignancy without trivializing or exploiting the affliction at its center.

It is a smart, character-driven adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Matthew Quick that’s much more than just an average tale of family dysfunction.

Bradley Cooper stars as Pat, a Philadelphia schoolteacher who is released from a court-ordered stay in an institution, only to face a host of problems back home, including job loss and a separation from his wife. He moves back in with his parents, including Pat Sr. (Robert DeNiro), a Philadelphia Eagles fanatic who has obvious issues of his own.

He finds an unexpected companion in Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a stranger who might facilitate a reunion between Pat and his estranged wife if ulterior motives don’t get in the way.

Pat is a fascinating character, and Cooper (The Hangover) brings depth to his performance unlike most of the broad comedic roles that have made him famous. Pat goes from having bipolar issues within his mind (although the extent of his mental illness remains intentionally ambiguous) to real-world dilemmas that aren’t as easily controlled by medication or institutionalization.

DeNiro’s portrayal is his best in years as a man who seems deceptively simple, and Lawrence also brings complexity to her mystery woman. The performances – including a subdued Chris Tucker in a bittersweet supporting role – help to smooth out some rough patches in Russell’s screenplay.

Still, the film deftly handles some shifts in tone, and overall it feels more authentic than contrived. Some riveting confrontation scenes are among the highlights.

Just as in the book, the Philadelphia setting plays a vital role in the film, and not just because of the elder Pat’s passion for the Eagles, and his odd obsession with receiver DeSean Jackson (whose jersey provides some amusing moments) in particular.

While there are plenty of laughs, Silver Linings Playbook also is a touching and slightly unsettling look at a family dealing with issues too numerous to mention, yet it never seems entirely hopeless.

Rated R, 122 minutes.