The Luckiest Man in America

The Luckiest Man In America is apparently based on a true person although I never heard of him. The movie is categorized as a thriller but it isn't, it's basically a drama which is normally not my favourite genre but this one was actually a good movie. The cast was very well chosen. Paul Walter Hauser has one of those faces to play a weirdo, like he did before in the excellent movie Richard Jewell and the great series Black Bird. This time he plays the contestant in a game show, again a character that can be qualified as weird. Good acting from the entire cast and an easy and pleasant story to follow.

"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.

Luckiest Man in America is a textbook case of wasted potential. You've got a talented cast firing on all cylinders-delivering nuanced, emotionally sharp performances that deserved way better material. But the story? It drags like a flat tire on a cross-country road trip.

The pacing is glacial, the plot feels like it's searching for meaning in all the wrong places, and by the halfway mark, you're not wondering what happens next-you're wondering how much longer you have to sit through it. It's less "luckiest man in America" and more "audience stuck in narrative limbo."

To be fair, the performances alone kept this from dropping into total disaster territory. But great acting can only do so much when the story they're trapped in is meandering, repetitive, and about as gripping as a lukewarm cup of decaf.

Verdict: Strong cast, weak script. If you're watching for the actors, sure-just don't expect them to save the movie from itself.

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.