LUCKY YOU
LUCKY YOU: GOOD POKER FACE, A BLUFF OF A ROMANCE
With an authentic story about poker, Curtis Hanson (In Her Shoes, Wonder Boys) has done his homework. Too bad a needless romance between its main characters detracts from the story. Eric Bana, as the lead character, stands out amount Hollywood veterans Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall.
Its 2003. Poker is starting to sweep the nation with it being aired on television with the new card camera. Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) is a talented poker player who lets his emotions control him. He loses it every time he is around his father, the legendary poker player L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall). He steals from friends to get money to play. He lives in a house without any furniture because he sold it all. He needs to make $10,000 to get a seat in the World Series of Poker. He meets Billie Offer (Drew Barrymore) and he sees her as an opportunity. He takes advantage of her. She shows him that he is more than just a gambler.
The story is about a poker player who finds love and tries to become a better person. Huck is a degenerate gambler who has an addiction. He can’t help himself. He hates his father but he is just like him. At one point he explains to Billie that he only gambles on his skills, he only plays poker. She tells him, “That is like an alcoholic saying I only drink Tequila.” You see how sad the gambling addiction is. Bana has been a player in high profile films such as Munich and Troy. But he really sinks his teeth into this role and comes across as Huck. He’s just a normal guy with a gambling problem. Barrymore as Billie is an understated version of every nice girl she has played in her gallery of romantic comedies. You think she is this sad little thing who has come to Vegas to make it as a singer. She shows she is stronger than Huck. Duvall is always a classic. The poker games and the WSOP are loaded with big name players. Doyle Brunson was the poker consultant for the movie. He has won the main event of the WSOP twice. Other faces you will recognize if you are a fan of poker are Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Harman, and Phil Hellmuth. The poker room at the Bellagio in the movie is an exact replica of how the room looked in 2003. The Bellagio was set to redecorate so the set designer got all interior decoration for the film. Barrymore’s hair and costumes were distracting-she looked like June Carter Cash.
The romance between Billie and Huck takes away the credibility of the story and the poker games. It would have been less distracting to have them as friends but the romance tries to capture the female audience.
The focus should have stayed on this guy trying to get into the World Series of Poker. There is no chemistry between Eric Bana and Drew Barrymore, making it hard to believe the romance. But Hanson has researched the poker scene well and it shows throughout the movie.
Report Card:
Story-B
Acting-A
Visuals-B+
Originality/Innovation-B
Enjoyability Grade–B
DVD Extras-A
Overall Grade-B
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