JACKPOT!
(director: Paul Feig; screenwriter: Rob Yescombe; cinematographer: John Schwartzman; editor: Brent White; music: Theodore Shapiro; cast: Awkwafina (Katie), John Cena (Noel), Simu Liu (Louis Lewis), Ayden Mayeri (Shadi), Donald Elise Watkins (DJ), Murray Hill (Johnny Grand), Seann William Scott (Rugged Man), Machine Gun Kelly (Himself); Runtime: 104; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Laura Fischer, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Joe Roth, Paul Feig; Amazon Prime Video; 2024)
“Things become less amusing the longer it goes on.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Paul Feig (“Ghostbusters”/”A Simple Favor”) directs this silly light action-comedy that only offers a small payoff in entertainment value and has nothing to say about social issues in a world it cynically paints with moral decay. It’s written as a goof with lively one-liners by Rob Yescombe (but with only some jokes being funny).
In the near future, California has established a new lottery system whereby winners have until sundown to stay alive. If someone kills them (other than by firearms) they get to claim their money. The state seemingly wants as few winners as possible.
A former child star in commercials and now a fast-talking aspiring actress, Katie Kim (Awkwafina), is a winner, having played the lottery by accident and won a $3 billion prize. This results in her being attacked. The LA resident immediately signs an agreement with the small-time operator of a bodyguard service, Noel (John Cena), for protection. Eventually, Noel must get back-up from his shady greedy rival, Louis Lewis (Simu Liu), who runs a big agency.
The action sequences include a bike chase, seeking shelter with rapper Machine Gun Kelly (himself) in his safe room, and a confrontation with Katie’s implacable Airbnb thief hostess (Ayden Mayeri).
The two leads have a great chemistry together but its dystopian manifestations soon pale and its repetitive slapstick comedy go quickly from inspired to tiresome, as things become less amusing the longer it goes on.
REVIEWED ON 8/22/2024 GRADE: C+
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