Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper won over audiences and at least one director as an onscreen cute couple at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“A gift to a director is chemistry and these two had a great chemistry,” said David O. Russell, after directing the pair in his latest film Silver Linings Playbook.

The pair then went on to star in Susanne Biers’s Depression-era drama Serena.

But it did not stop there for the cast of Russell’s latest comedy, based on Matthew Quick’s novel that examines a man’s recovery from a personal and professional meltdown with the help of parents (Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver), football, books and a sexy, quirky neighbour (Lawrence).

Cooper had worked with De Niro in Neil Burger’s thriller Limitless.

“They also had a father-son relationship that already existed so that was a great benefit,” said Russell. “They were very comfortable with each other and very natural and Bradley knows Bob’s children, so that was a very good thing.”

Weaver, who celebrates 50 years as an actress in November, said she was nervous playing opposite De Niro, but it worked out great. She also instantly warmed to Cooper.

“Like any mother, you want your kid to be happy. And you meet Bradley Cooper and you just adore him,” said Weaver.

“When he was in such anguish (as dysfunctional Pat in the film) all I cared about was getting him better.”