Finding Joy Review
Director: Tyler Perry
Date Created: 2025-11-06 03:15
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Finding Joy Review: This holiday romantic comedy-drama was written and directed by Tyler Perry and runs for about 106 minutes. The film stars Shannon Thornton as Joy and Tosin Morohunfola as Ridge, with a supporting cast that includes Brittany S. Hall, Inayah, Eric Stanton Betts, Aaron O’Connell, Natalie O’Connell, Jeffery Thomas Johnson and Whitney Goin. The plot surrounds a woman who went after a dream romance but got lost in a snowstorm, only to find more than she bargained for in both trouble and a second chance.
Finding Joy Review
Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy is about an ambitious fashion designer by the name Joy who lives in New York City but struggles hard in both professional and personal areas. Nobody appreciates her talent at work, and a series of disappointments ensues in her love life. As a last resort, she follows her crush to Colorado, thinking she would have a Christmas miracle when she suddenly finds herself in a snowstorm, which ends up changing her life completely. The plot gets reflective as it goes on, describing second chances and rediscovery of what’s important.
Amazon prime video’s Finding Joy is not a groundbreaking romantic film; it’s a soft, classic kind of narrative that follows a rather predictable scenario. But that doesn’t mean it lacks sincerity. The movie, to my liking, puts a lot of effort into showing Joy’s emotional chaos in a very natural and human way. She is not the typical “Christmas movie” heroine because she is impulsive, insecure, and at times frustrating to watch. Nevertheless, that is just the reason why she is so relatable. One cannot help but find in her muddle and misdeeds something similar to real life.
At the same time, I had some occasions when I found her choices utterly irrational. It is quite difficult to support a character who constantly turns a blind eye to glaringly apparent danger. Still, Shannon Thornton brings to the character a softness and charisma that allow one to defend the shortcomings of Joy more easily. Her acting brings to life both the fragility and the quiet faith of the woman who is trying to put herself together after a crushing defeat in love.
Tyler Perry is known for stories that balance emotional depths with family values and personal redemption. Finding Joy movie is just that, but in a more subtle, less exaggerated way than most of his previous efforts. At times, the pace may be slow, particularly in the middle when Joy and Ridge are stuck inside due to snow, but this is where it finds its core.
The time they spend together in the cabin plays out almost like a play: two people of completely opposite backgrounds getting accustomed to each other and healing slowly. Ridge, who is a man still grieving over his mother’s death, becomes the reflection Joy requires to acknowledge her own fragility. Their attachment develops gradually, without the customary filmic rush, and it is one of the strongest points of the movie.
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Still, there are parts in the film that seem elongated, and a few moments of sentimentality which could have been more subtle. The script from Perry at times makes the message clear rather than having it sink in through the characters’ emotions. As a fan of heartwarming dramas, I truly appreciated the honesty; simultaneously, I wanted sharper and more natural-sounding dialogue.
What really brings the movie Finding Joy alive would be its cast. Shannon Thornton is brilliant as the protagonist, and Tosin Morohunfola’s reposeful, grounded acting balances her energy superbly. Together, they form a bond that’s so real, specifically in the subdued, tear-jerking scenes. The other minor characters, however, do little in terms of impact.
Her closest friends are completely taken up with humour, and the character of her boss is nothing but bad. These parts could have contributed more to the emotional scaling, but now they come off as flat. It is clear that Perry had the intention of taking a focus on Joy’s inner development, but a drastic reduction of the supporting characters makes the setting around her less vivid.
Where Finding Joy on Prime Video succeeds is in its emotional honesty. Beneath the predictable setup lies the story of grief, forgiveness, and bravery to restart living. Ridge’s silent suffering due to the death of his mother and Joy’s ever-present fight with self-image come together in a very believable way.
What I liked most was that the movie did not take love as some kind of magic solution to all one’s problems. Rather, it showed how love acquires all its meaning only after one has learned to like oneself first. Joy doesn’t just “find” Ridge; she also gets to find herself anew. That aspect is what continued to resonate with me even when the lights came up and the music stopped playing.
All in all, Prime Video movie Finding Joy is a mixed bag: sometimes heartwarming, at other times frustrating, yet honest about its intentions. It is not the kind of movie that you will be stunned by with plot twists or magnificent gestures, but it does provide you with moments that will make you smile and think.
Yet, in my opinion, the movie did not take enough risks, especially regarding the very clichéd romantic plot-line and supporting roles so underdeveloped they become invisible. Visually and audibly, everything contributed to the celebratory atmosphere, yet nothing was so amazing that it could be named remarkable.
Prime Video Finding Joy Review: Summing Up
Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy is not a perfect movie, but it’s a nice reminder that the most complicated moments in your life can be those that give you the most joy. Unassuming and filled with warmth, the movie is worth a one-time watch, especially if you like snuggling up during the holiday period with messages of healing and romance.
