Pat (Cooper) is in his late thirties, and has just moved back in with his parents (De Niro and Weaver) after a violent outbreak saw him spend a stint in a mental institution, and lose his house, his job and his wife. The arrival of Tiffany (Lawrence) could mean a chance to reconnect with his wife, but in return he has to help her out too. A bond starts forming between them, but just as interesting is the changing nature of Pat’s relationship with his own parents.

Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy about manic depression. If that sounds insane to you… well, welcome to the world of David O. Russell, whose career from his debut, Spanking the Monkey, all the way through Flirting With Disaster, Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees combine audience appealing comedy with complex characters experiencing real neuroses and personal issues. And this may be his most audience-appealing film, a generous piece about families, love, desire, football and dancing. It’s about second chances and the surprises life can throw at you.