Joy might inspire future women entrepreneurs

Movie Title:    Joy

Grade:  B

Rating:  PG-13, 2 hours

In a Nutshell:    

The movie informs you at the beginning that it was “inspired by true stories of daring women.”  It’s based loosely on the true rags-to-riches story of Joy Mangano, inventor of the “Miracle Mop” and “Huggable Hangers”, a business titan on QVC and HSN.   

Jennifer Lawrence does it best when she plays an underdog with natural talent and hope.

Your heart will sink and soar with Joy as she journeys through the perilous business world.  This movie will make you want to take a leap of faith and invent that thing that’s been in your head for years…or hide from the world, watching soap operas all day.   

Uplifting theme: 

• “Hope springs eternal.” – Grandma Mimi
• “You can’t let the practical get you down.  You got to keep moving to what you love.”  - Tony (Edgar Ramirez)
• Persistence, determination, hard work, hope.
• “We got here from hard work, patience, and humility.  Don’t think the world owes you anything, because the world owes you nothing.” - Joy

Things I liked:

• It’s always great to see Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro, Diane Ladd, Isabella Rossellini, and Virginia Madsen.  It’s impressive how they were able to deliver some of their ridiculous lines with straight faces.
• I love the soap opera that is layered throughout most of the movie.  (Director and co-writer David O. Russell should have brought it back in the end.)  I especially love that it features the queen of all soap operas, Susan Lucci.  It’s cute how it showcases the decades through their clothing and hairstyles.  It made me laugh because my mother used to “tape her shows” and watch them every day.
• I liked the comparison of the cicada hiding for 17 years, like Joy did.
• The music gave the movie a magical story feel.
• I love that sisters Joy & Peggy looked like sisters.  Nice casting.
• Even Joy’s loved ones put down her ideas, but she never gives up on herself or them.  Life keeps pushing her down, but she never gives up.  I admire that tremendously, because I’m often too quick to quit.
• I admire how she keeps control of her temper. 
• In the scene in Texas, Joy follows a great rule of negotiation: stop talking and let the other guy make the first offer.
• It paints a fairly realistic picture of the business world and how difficult it can be to begin and maintain a successful business. 
• Joan Rivers was played by her rea life daughter Melissa Rivers.  That must have been so much fun for her.
• Drena De Niro plays Cindy.  She is the adopted daughter of Robert De Niro and has played bit parts in several of his films.

Things I didn’t like:

• Jennifer Lawrence is the bright star in this movie.  You kind of don't care about any of the other people.  They're too over-the-top "characters" to feel real.
• I never like watching families fight.
• Joy’s mother gets sucked into soap operas and spends her life in front of a TV, rather than truly living her life.
• I don’t like it when kids call their parents by their first names.
• The trailer didn’t explain the movie very well.
• Director Russell starts with an interesting style in the beginning of the movie and then drops it completely mid-way.   
• While Russell is great at creating damaged characters, they’re often one-dimensional.
• Jennifer Lawrence speaks Spanish a few times, but there aren’t any subtitles.  Her accent is pretty good!

Interesting lines:

• “When someone sees a weakness in me, I turn that weakness into a strength.” – Danica – (Susan Lucci)
•  “The funny thing about hiding…you’re even hidden from yourself.” – young Joy (Isabella Crovetti-Cramp)
• “We’re doing an invention.” – Joy’s daughter

“Why?” – Grandma Mimi

“Because we are.” – Joy

“It’s very serious.  It’s priorities.” – Joy’s daughter

• “There’s no shame in hard work.” – Joy
• “Everybody starts out with some kind of dream about what life will be.” – Grandma Mimi  

Morris’ 4 questions of financial worthiness:

1.      Where did you go to high school?

2.      Who were you in high school?

3.      Are you prepared, within 6 months of financing this venture, to show adequate returns?

4.      You are in a room and there is a gun on the table and the only other person in the room is an adversary in commerce.  Only one of you can prevail, yet you have protected your business and Morris’ money.  Do you pick up the gun?

Tips for parents:   

• This isn’t a movie that young children will enjoy or understand very well.  Teenage girls may be interested and inspired by Joy’s tenacity to live their dream.
• Some profanity and fighting.

The Intern is sweet, but safe

Movie:    The Intern

Rating:  PG-13, 2 hours 1 minute

Grade:   B

In a Nutshell:   Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway are some of my faves .  Other faces you’ll enjoy seeing are the beautiful Rene Russo, Adam DeVine, and Andrew Rannells. 

While the premise of this comedy is very sweet with great comic potential, the writing doesn’t reach very far. It’s pleasant, but bland; sweet, but forgettable.  Director Nancy Meyers charms, yet plays it safe.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Everyone wants to feel wanted, needed, and relevant.

·         “You’re never wrong to do the right thing.” – Mark Twain

·         Men, always carry a handkerchief.   You’ll look classy and be a hero to someone someday.

Things I liked:

·         I loved Ben Whitaker’s (Robert De Niro) video application and the fact that he admitted that he had to call his 6 year old grandson to find out what a USB port was.  Ha ha

·         I liked the way Jules’ (Anne Hathaway) office worked.  For example, the receptionist was really personable and friendly.  I like the idea of ringing a bell and offering applause whenever someone in the office does something well.

·         Anne Hathway has such a beautiful smile.

·         Rene Russo is aging so beautifully.  I take that back….she’s not aging at all.

·         I loved how Ben saw a problem and fixed it without fanfare (when he cleans up the giant mess on the company junk desk).  Years ago I worked for a Congressman in Washington DC, hoping to make big contributions in American politics. One day, I cleaned the office kitchenette, because, frankly, it was disgusting and no one else was doing it.  While I had wanted to save the world, the thing that everyone praised me the most for was being the one who actually took the time to clean the messy kitchen area.  Ha ha   If you want to stand out, do something that others aren’t willing to do.

·         Overall, it’s a clean date movie, which is refreshing in the wake of trashy movies like Trainwreck 
-    If you enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada , Anne Hathaway's character in this movie will feel familiar, as if Andy grew up and started her own fashion business.

Things I didn’t like:

·         It’s pretty predictable.  No big plot twists or surprises.

·         Robert De Niro’s character is a little one-dimensional, with a goofy grin on his face most of the time.
-    A few amusing scenarios, but nothing laugh-out-loud funny.

·         The movie preaches about having it all.  Can you really have it all?  Years ago I attended the Governor’sConference for Women in California (fantastic event) and that very question was asked of several high-powered women on a panel.  They all chimed in about how you CAN, until finally, Meg Whitman (CEO of Ebay) honestly said it wasn’t true.  She explained that you can’t have it all….at the same time.  For example, one day you can be the best business woman in the world, but then the house work is going to slide or else you’re too exhausted at the end of the day to carry on a meaningful conversation with your spouse.  Another day you can be Super Mom, but then you won’t have time to exercise or pay your bills.  Ultimately, there are only so many hours in a day and something usually has to give.  I appreciated the honesty of that answer and it has always helped me to set more realistic expectations about my day.

Funny lines:  

·         “What did you major in?  Do you remember?”  - ATF Interviewer #1 (Wallis Currie-Wood)

·         “Grey is the new green.” – Jason (funny man Adam DeVine from Pitch Perfect )

Things to look for:

·         In the beginning of the movie when Jules rides her bicycle through the office, they had to have her ride extra slowly so the two girls could get all of their lines out during the scene.

·         Ben’s closet is pretty awesome.

·         Here is a question for you:  If you knew someone was having an affair, would you tell the spouse?  Is it your place to?  Would it help them or hurt them?

Tips for Parents:

·         Jason hands Ben a newspaper to cover up his private parts when he’s getting a massage.

·         Two F-bombs, but they’re both mouthed and so you can’t hear it.  Someone flips the bird.

·         Jules and Ben watch the movie An American in Paris , which your kids probably haven’t seen.  It’s a classic you should introduce to them!  (On second thought, was it a clip from Singin' in the Rain ?)  
·         Pre-marital relations.

Another cute intern movie featuring "older" interns is The Internship .