Lucky You

It’s not hard to see why Lucky You‘s been having problems securing a release date over the last few years, as the film ultimately possesses very little mainstream appeal (ie this certainly isn’t the lightweight romantic comedy that the trailers have been promising). Saddled with an overlong running time and an exceedingly deliberate pace, Lucky You generally has the feel and tone of a low-key character study – with the narrative detailing the exploits of a charismatic yet thoroughly compulsive poker player (Eric Bana’s Huck Cheever) whose inability to walk away from a bet has essentially left him devoid of a personal life. The romantic subplot, revolving around Huck’s on-again-off-again relationship with a would-be singer (Drew Barrymore’s Billie Offer), is undoubtedly the least interesting element within Curtis Hanson and Eric Roth’s screenplay, and there’s little doubt that the inclusion of several other needless moments, coupled with a sporadic tendancy to focus on the minutia of poker, ensures that the film is never entirely as compelling as one imagines it’s supposed to be. It is, however, impossible to completely dismiss Lucky You; Bana’s subtle performance is matched by an expectedly engaging turn by Robert Duvall as Huck’s shady father, while director Hanson does a nice job of infusing the proceedings with a refreshingly laid-back vibe.

**1/2 out of ****