"Joy" is another cinematic triumph for screenwriter-director David O. Russell as well as for what might be his movie repertoire group: actors Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro, who were tremendous in "Silver Linings Playbook" (2012), for which Lawrence received the actress Oscar.

The setting is a similar middle-class milieu, but starting out several decades earlier when Joy (Lawrence) is a struggling single mother with two children who's out of work but not out of ideas. Her dad, Rudy (De Niro), moves in, to the basement, no less, that he must share with Joy's ex-husband, Tony (Édgar Ramírez in a wonderful performance).If that's not enough, there's Joy's mom, Terry (a terrific Virginia Madsen), to contend with, whose obsession with soap operas is so all-encompassing it takes over Joy's dreams and nightmares (Susan Lucci is a hoot in the soap within the film).Narrating the film in a voice-over is Joy's grandmother, Mimi (a wonderful Diane Ladd), whose encouraging words seem to fuel Joy's unabashed gumption.Joy doodles. She wonders "What if." She invents a household mop with a removable mophead for easy washing. After several starts and stops, including convincing Rudy's wealthy new girlfriend, Trudy (the estimable Isabella Rossellini), to invest, and with help from her friend, Jackie (Dascha Polanco), getting QVC head Neil Walker (a very fine Cooper), to let her go on air to sell her wares, Joy, you might say, cleans up.Nothing goes smoothly for Joy. Even after a tremendously successful launch of her mop, complications arise that require Joy to redouble her efforts to protect her invention."Joy" is based on the true story of Joy Mangano, who invented the self-wringing "Miracle Mop," and her four-generation Italian-American family. Mangano is president of Ingenious Designs LLC, and appears on the HSN shopping channel. Mangano has more than 100 patents."Joy" has the look and feel of early Coen Brothers' films (notably, "Raising Arizona," 1987) and the loosey-goosey vibe of "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006), as well as Russell's own "Silver Linings Playbook." Yet "Joy" is truly an original work."Joy" is a film that can be viewed on multiple levels. It's the story of an independent, creative and determined woman. In this, it's a great film for young women to see. "I don't need a prince," Joy says as a girl. And, Joy apparently returns the favor for would-be inventors who come knocking on her office door."Joy" is also a film of an era, the early days of QVC when Barry Diller's pet project was getting underway in Amish country (the Lancaster area and TV studio scenes are priceless). It seems quaint, what with cellphone ordering technology and overnight free delivery."Joy" is also a paean to American capitalism. It's about the joy of making things, the joy of marketing and the joy of commerce.Russell directs with a brash assuredness, allowing numerous close-up shots in the cinematography by Linus Sandgren ("American Hustle," 2013) to linger on the actors, especially Lawrence's transformative face, and a whiz-bang editing style that is gleeful. The flashbacks are handled very originally. The dialogue in the screenplay Russell wrote from a story by Annie Mumolo and himself is so true-to-life. "They were the best divorced couple," it's said of Joy and her ex. Look for Oscar screenplay and directing Oscar nominations for Russell.Russell writes and directs setups that deliver as few others can. For instance, the visuals he uses to foreshadow Joy's invention are perfect. Joy keeps cleaning up the family messes (literally and figuratively). The 1950s through 1980s art direction is great. "Joy" is a joy to watch. The soundtrack and song selection enhances the film's giddy pace.Lawrence again proves why she's contemporary cinema's No. 1 female movie star (after all, she's had two films in the Top 10 for two weeks in a row, including "Joy" and "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2"). In "Joy," Lawrence is expansive, awkward and geeky in body language. Emotions flash across her face like thunderstorms. Her eyes reveal a world of hurt. Her voice is a lovely combination of sweetness and steel wool. It's another bravura performance for Lawrence, who deserves another Oscar actress nomination.Look for an Oscar supporting actor nomination for De Niro, here at his rueful, cantankerous, rapscallion best. Notable supporting roles include Melissa Rivers as her mom, Joan Rivers, and Drena De Niro as QVC on-air pitch persons, and Elisabeth Röhm as Jennifer Lawrence's sister."Joy" is a joyous film. It's insightful. It's hilarious. It's one of the few films of 2015 Oscar season that I want to see again, and again."Joy," MPAA Rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13.) for brief strong language; Genre: Comedy, Drama; Run time: 2 hrs., 4 mins.; Distributed by 20th Century Fox.Credit Readers Anonymous: "Joy" was filmed in and around Boston.Box Office, Jan. 1: As expected, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" had a three-peat, No. 1 three weeks in a row as it continued to break more records in the movie box office book, with $88.3 million during the New Year's holiday weekend and $740.2 million, three weeks. According to the website, Box Office Mojo, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" grossed $700 million domestically in 16 days, the fastest ever. The film has broken 40 box office records. It's now the sixth highest grossing release worldwide with $1.5 billion.2. "Daddy's Home," $29 million, $93.6 million, two weeks; 3. "The Hateful Eight," $16.2 million, $29.5 million, two weeks; 4. "Sisters," $12.5 million, $61.7 million, three weeks; 5. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip," $11.8 million, $67.3 million, three weeks; 6. "Joy," $10.4 million, $38.7 million, two weeks; 7. "The Big Short," $9 million, $32.9 million, four weeks; 8. "Concussion," $8 million, $25.3 million, two weeks; 9. "Point Break," $6.8 million, $22.4 million, two weeks; 10. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2," $4.6 million, $274.2 million, seven weeksUnreel, Jan. 8: "The Revenant," R: Alejandro Gonzélez Iñérritu directs Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Will Poulter in the western about an 1820s frontiersman (Leonardo DiCaprio) seeking vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling.Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn BoxesGood advice for everyone - teens to seniors - is in "The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It." To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)(EDITORS: If you have editorial questions, please contact Sue Roush, sroush@amuniversal.com.)