Aahana Swrup
Directed by Tyler Perry, ‘Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy’ is a romantic drama film in which a holiday-gone-wrong ends up bringing two destined souls together. The titular NY fashion designer, Joy, is at the center of the story. Stuck in a dead-end job and sporting a long history of dating disasters, Joy is still ready to open herself up to the possibility of romance. Therefore, when her latest situationship, Colton, invites her to spend Christmas with his family in Colorado, she happily goes along with the plan. Yet, things aren’t as they seem, and a devastating revelation compels the young woman to run away in the middle of a snowstorm. Fortunately enough, before she could have succumbed to the elements, a remote cabin owner, Ridge, rescues her. As a result, the two find themselves stuck in a cozy cabin together for the foreseeable future. The story presents a classic Holiday love story, sprinkled with captivating character dynamics and relatable protagonists. Thus, given its grounded narrative, the film’s bases in reality remain worth exploring.
Finding Joy is a Fictional Story That Blends Spirituality With Yuletide Romance
‘Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy’ is a Christmas-time romcom that charts an idyllic story about love found in unexpected places. Penned in its entirety by director Tyler Perry, the story remains a work of fiction. As a result, the premise itself as well as the characters and their narratives are fictitious elements created in service of the overarching story. Most notably, the film carves out a distinct identity for itself in the category of holiday romances through its intentional emphasis on spirituality. The two protagonists of the tale, Joy and Ridge, both find themselves with badly dealt cards in life. At the beginning of their lightning-in-a-bottle meeting, both individuals are burdened by the weight of their own past experiences and traumas.
Nonetheless, as time passes and a few fateful signs arrive, Joy and Ridge open themselves up to allowing their vulnerabilities to show. Consequently, a significant aspect of the story stems from the theme of fateful intervention. Furthermore, it instills a message of opening oneself up to accepting the curveballs of life and using them to build something reliable for oneself. In a conversation with Where Is The Buzz, actor Tosin Morohunfola, who plays Ridge, spoke about the subliminal messaging of the film. He said, “Whatever life brings your way, and believe me, it will bring you a lot, it is your responsibility to be happy. Literally.” He further added, “You might find it in unexpected places as long as you keep looking. You might find love where you don’t expect it as long as you keep your heart open.”
Finding Joy Taps Into a Sense of Familiarity Through Tried and Tested Romcom Tropes
While ‘Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy’ presents a unique story with distinguished characters, its romantic comedy narrative remains prevalent in its storytelling identity. For the most part, this plays a vital role in defining the story’s sense of familiarity. Joy’s story retains elements of an underdog story, miscommunication, and a fulfilling, hopeless romantic arc. Alternatively, Ridge’s character remains imbued with well-loved characteristics associated with mysterious brooding, love interests, whose dark pasts cast a shadow over their current predicaments. Finally, their romance itself shares a premise of forced proximity, a trope equipped in other films like ‘Two Night Stand,’ ‘Six Days Seven Nights,’ ‘The Proposal,’ and more.
Even so, while Joy and Ridge’s love story remains ripe with cliches and tropes, it manages to achieve a sense of authenticity. The heightened chemistry between the central characters certainly helps the story in achieving the same. However, the relatable aspect of their individualistic storylines also plays a significant part in this. The theme of self-discovery and self-actualization remains at the core of both Joy and Ridge’s storylines. While the former is running away from her own bad decisions, the latter is plagued by a tragedy in his past. In the end, the answer to both of their struggles can only be unlocked once they decide to take their fates into their hands and take charge of their stories. Naturally, this adds a sense of relatability to both their storylines, allowing audiences to form empathetic bonds with them and bet on their happiness. Ultimately, by tapping into universally humane emotions, ‘Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy’ manages to present a relatable story even without any real roots in reality.
Read More: 10 Movies Like Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy You Must See
