The Luckiest Man in America

We decided to watch The Luckiest Man in America totally out of the blue. None of us had seen a trailer, read a synopsis, or even knew it was based on a true story. All we gathered was that it involved a game show... and a really lucky guy. Naturally, we expected some quirky competition drama. What we got instead was the story of Michael - a down-on-his-luck ice cream man just trying to hold his crumbling life together.

Winny felt for the guy early on. Michael's financial struggles and family breakdowns hit hard, especially as he tried to keep a connection with his daughter. Willow, meanwhile, kept questioning the rules of the game and what kind of stakes were really on the table. How does a man walk into a show and start winning everything? He was genuinely curious the whole way through.

Mimikyu was totally locked into the story, though every now and then she'd comment on how surreal it felt. The people in the show seemed too perfect - big plastic smiles, over-the-top energy - almost creepy in how artificial it got. Amy and Tails just sat back and enjoyed it casually, laughing at the awkward moments and clapping when things got wild. Sweet had a real appreciation for the early '80s look and vibe - the colors, the clothes, even the retro TV lights. He especially loved Paul Walter Hauser's performance and kept calling it "quietly brilliant."

That said, the movie isn't without its flaws. There's a slow middle stretch where the pacing just stalls, and some of the emotional arcs - especially between Michael and the people closest to him - don't go as deep as they could have. A few of us were expecting more weight or a bigger payoff by the end. Instead, it sort of... just ends. Not badly, but not with a bang either.

Still, for a night where none of us expected much, it turned out to be a pretty solid 90-minute watch. Definitely something different - part quirky drama, part character study, and all wrapped in a retro TV glow.

Final Rating from the Crew: 7/10 🎰📺

Film: "The Luckiest Man in America" 🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷🐷 had its moments piglets!

(6/10 me) (6/10 Marilee)

Another one that looked really good. I have to admit, I did not know the true story and the events that surrounded it. Great idea for a movie. Groggins and Hauser were fantastic. I am a huge fan of both of those actors.

It's one of those movies where the audience, at times, cannot tell what is being presented as reality or what is a fantasy in some characters head. It makes it all the more confusing.

We rented it. I suggest you wait till it comes to a streaming outlet to watch it for free.

Just average.

"The Luckiest Man In America" is the true 1984 tale of Michael Larson (Paul Walter Hauser - strong again) who blagged his way onto the tv game-show 'Press Your Luck' (hosted by Walton Goggins) to rack up monster winnings - and make the show's staff (inc David Strathairn, Maisie Williams, & Shamier Anderson) suspect that something was amiss. It's fascinating fare, well made (by second-time director Samir Oliveros who co-wrote this his first screenplay with second-time writer Maggie Briggs) with the likes of Johnny Knoxville & Haley Bennett in minor support - tho it'll leave most asking Google to complete Larson's story for them. It's a good movie... just a little thin.

The list of things that didn't happen is way longer than the list of things that actually happened, and the stuff that actually happened is far more interesting.

Yes, Michael did go on the show and win big by memorizing the patterns on the board. But that's where the true part ends. Everything else that happened, him wandering on to another talk show, breaking into his truck and watching tapes, calling his wife and putting her on the show, the list goes on.

The movie is well cast, but not well written. If you want to watch a more interesting telling of the story, go watch "Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal"

Saw this at a TIFF screening last night, theatre completely sold out. The film itself is a pretty nice 90-minute film mostly sitting on one set. While the film does have a really strong premise, it most definetly loses its steam in the latter acts due to its lack of understanding of where to go. I really adored Paul Walter Hauser in this, but his character felt severly underwritten- it sorta seemed like he was many things for a long time and yet, he just turned out to be a normal pretty intelligent man. They kept alluding to something big was going to happen at the end with a twist, but it never comes, leaving an odd sour taste in my mouth as the credits rolled. But its still a very enjoyable casual wednesday night watch.