There aren’t many words to describe David O. Russell’s latest film “Silver Linings Playbook,” starring Jennifer Lawrence (“Hunger Games,” “House at the end of the Street,”) and Bradley Cooper. (“Limitless,” “The Words.“) The only ones that come to mind are bittersweet, heartwarming, quirky, and perfectly twisted.

For the past few years, Lawrence and Cooper have been rising stars in Hollywood. Their performances as Pat, a young man that has just been released from a psychiatric ward due to emotional outbursts involving the complicated relationships with his wife and father, and Tiffany, the girl next door with a broken rebel spirit, perfectly balance the movie to make it into a dramatic love story that is equally depressing as it is charming.

Tiffany and Pat have such natural chemistry in the movie that you’d think they’ve known each other for a lifetime. Maybe it’s the way Tiffany stalks Pat to get his attention just one day after they meet, or the way that Pat is so oblivious to what’s going on around him due to his blinded quest to get his wife back, but the two of them just work. The dialogue and scenes between them is hilarious in a crude way – both characters have diarrhea of the mouth, which just makes their interactions throughout the movie all the more entertaining.

The relationship between Tiffany and Pat is just one of the many things that make this movie so successful. The themes in the film – depression, mental health, love, loss, grief, pain, starting over – are all intertwined in such a perfect way that I left the theater in awe of Russell’s ability to make a wonderful and intricate story out of two broken people, a football obsession, and a dance competition. The three of those things may not seem to coincide very well, but every event perfectly folds into the next to create love story that was from typical. The random aspects that were thrown in were one of the things that I loved most about the movie. It included scenarios that would enthrall almost any audience, male or female, young or old.

With an all-star cast including Lawrence, Cooper, and Robert DeNiro, who plays Pat Sr., the execution of an already amazing plot was just as good as the rest of the movie.

Lawrence’s performance as Tiffany was probably one of the most entertaining parts of the movie. She’s one of the main reasons the movie is as perfectly twisted as it is. Her crude humor and blunt personality make are not unlike characters that Lawrence has played in the past, but she pulls off Tiffany exceptionally well. Recently widowed, Tiffany fights through her grief and manages to stay strong enough to help Pat through his own problems, which lead him to obsessive and outlandish behavior that cause more problems for his family. Though somewhat tragic, his mental breakdowns are also mildly hilarious, and bring a fresh take to what it really is like to be damaged.

I’ve seen love stories before. I’ve seen movies about depression, dysfunctional families, and even movies about football, but I’ve never seen a movie that is able to take something from almost every genre and turn it into something that is honestly, in my opinion, the best movie of 2012.

“Silver Linings Playbook” will not only bring a silver lining to your day, but also enlighten you and leave you exiting the theater with hope.

Run Time: 122 minutes

Rating: R