Lucky Lu

Directed by Lloyd Lee Choi, Lucky Lu follows Chang Chen’s Lu as he attempts to come up with enough money to secure a New York City apartment before his wife and daughter arrive from China. Filmmaker Choi, armed with his own screenplay, delivers a gritty, authentic drama that remains frustratingly uninvolving from start to finish, as the movie, which progresses at a snail’s pace, boasts a decidedly less-than-eventful narrative that’s compounded by its intense, almost unreasonable familiarity – which does, in general, prevent one from connecting to the central character’s admittedly heartwrenching plight. It’s a shame, really, given that the picture boasts a subtle and often spellbinding turn by Chen, with the actor’s sympathetic work here generally elevating the proceedings and almost (but not quite) compensating for the pervasive less-than-enthralling vibe – with the final result a very well-intentioned (and well made) endeavor that’s never able to become as emotionally resonant as one might’ve expected (and hoped).

** out of ****