Lucky You

Review by Davin Sgargetta

If Poker’s not your thing, you might find by the end of Lucky You that the film’s title wasn’t referring to its audience. Even having a relative interest in cards and the principles and probabilities of professional gambling myself, it was plainly obvious that with what seemed like at least a third of the running time devoted to actual card playing, for many, this picture would be a bit of a yawn. Having said that, if you can manage to wade through the card flipping, and the painstaking glances across the card table, there is scant value in this picture.

It’s as if Hanson (L.A. Confidential, Wonder Boys, 8 Mile) woke up one night and thought, ‘I wanna make a movie about poker’, and the rest was left to formula. Filled with the typical opposing forces that drive many a successful film – the hard and pitiless gambler who needs to use his heart to keep a new love interest, the disgruntled son who resents his father but needs to look past his anger to see the lessons that the old man is attempting to tell him – this one offers nothing new. Having said that though, it does the ‘usual’ fairly well.

Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) is a full-time gambler, spending his days and nights working the card tables in a Vegas casino. Only playing games that have an element of skill involved, and using his ability to read body language and facial expression, he seems relatively accomplished and successful enough to deck himself out with a leather jacket and get around on a sparkling motorcycle.

But, when he meets Billie (Drew Barrymore) his self-destructive lifestyle begins to affect someone with whom he could have a future with: someone who could influence his life for our benefit, so that we can go home at least moderately satisfied. Will he change his ways to get the girl? Heard that one before? Thought so.

But the real value and the real lessons surround his relationship with his father, LC, himself a card playing hustler and a bit of a legend on the poker scene. It was Duvall’s character, choosing poker over his family in the past, which led to the family’s eventual breakdown, that injects the most interesting conflict. When Huck and his old man go head-to-head, both in the casino and even in a coffee shop, the films best dynamic exists. Duvall brings a little more out of Bana, but one can’t help but feel that it won’t be enough to save the film from a short running season.

The card sequences seemed genuine and well executed, which means little to the uninitiated. Drew Barrymore is disappointing (at times you’ll feel like you’re watching a high-school production) and Bana does the bare minimum, which is perhaps better than some of his recent attempts.

Duvall injected the class and charisma that Bana and Barrymore failed to deliver. He moves through a film and interacts with characters like a suave and experienced street salesman, who’s honed his craft for years.

One can’t help but think that with the themes, conflicts and story, this could have been a snappier and more memorable product. But the blandness of the writing and the seemingly inexperienced performances by the lead actors, you will be left wanting.

2.5 out of 5

Lucky You
Australian release: 10th May, 2007
Cast: Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Debra Messing, Robert Duvall, Robert Downey Jr.
Director: Curtis Hanson
Website: Click here.