The Luckiest Man in America is both the title of Samir Oliveros’s second feature and also could be used to identify the star of the movie, someone who exploded onto the scene a few years back and continues to shine and excel in every role he is in. The movie feels and plays like the time period in which it is set, which just gives nostalgic vibes of wanting to watch old game shows on an old CRT television set. This movie just breaths ‘80s aesthetic from set pieces, costuming, hair, and makeup. Everything about The Luckiest Man in America is a blast from the past grounded in a centralized performance that excels and breathes new life into some of the great moments from gameshow history.
The film focuses on Michael Larson (Paul Walter Hauser) as he is interviewing with Bill Carruthers (David Straithairn) and Chuck (Shamier Anderson) to get onto the game show, Press Your Luck. He is caught, during his interview, impersonating someone else, but his story about being a down-on-his-luck ice cream truck driver from Lebanon, Ohio, hits a cord with Cunningham who figures it would be a good ratings bump, and thus, Larson makes it onto the show. At first flustered by not getting as many chances to play (as per how the game works), he quickly, yet surely, changes his luck (no pun intended). Larson is overly charming, despite having a short fuse off camera, but manages to befuddle and shock everyone including the host, Peter Tomarken (Walton Goggins). His fellow contestants on the show consist of Ed (Brian Geraghty) who’s on a few days winning streak already, and Janine (Patti Harrison). As the game heats up, Larson creates a hot streak of astonishing proportions that wows America but certainly stresses out Carruthers and Chuck as Larson has clearly found a way to hack the game and manages to win (and counting) the highest (at the time) amount of money on Press Your Luck. While he plays the contestants, the host, the producers, and even Sylvia (Maisie Williams) the tour guide with a heart on her sleeve, the audience can’t help but cheer for a full-blooded regular guy, Michael Larson.
Paul Walter Hauser as Michael Larson in THE LUCKIEST MAN IN AMERICA. Photo courtesy of TIFF 2024.
In a movie that is so engrossed in an ensemble but focuses solely on one character, everything just has to fall into place perfectly for it all to work, otherwise it becomes a hot train wreck. Thankfully, the supporting cast, between Goggins (The Hateful 8), Harrison (Theater Camp), Williams (The New Mutants), Strathairn (Nomadland), and Anderson (John Wick: Chapter 4), is excellent, amplifying the stress, excitement, chaos, and sheer shock from everything that is happening around them. Whether it’s trying to keep their composure, their jobs, or trying to win money themselves, everyone is watching Larson, and their reactions to what unfolds is what makes everything fall together. Moreover though, it is Paul Walter Hauser (BlacKkKlansman) who shines and shines bright in this feature. He brings to life a presence of the everyman who was *just* smart enough to overcome the odds, or to play the game in the right way, creating the world for the audience to fall in love with. Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time that a game show had someone out smart the game, it also happened to The Price Is Right, but Hauser’s portrayal of Larson is simply electric. The everyman who just needed a win makes television history and engrosses the nation in an unexpected twist of faith.
Oliveros (Bad Lucky Goat) and Maggie Briggs (Joyland) co-wrote this script based on what, shockingly, occurred in history, and it just goes to show you the power of the underdog everyman who’s just trying to make their life that much better. Without getting into the details of what was going on and Larson’s motivations, it is truly admirable, despite being cunning, and results in a story that, once all the pieces fall together, you’re still rooting for the underdog. While there is nothing revolutionary in the film or script, it does just engage the underdog story and tells it well. Not everything needs to reinvent the wheel, sometimes just telling a good story with great performances is enough. The Luckiest Man in America is just a delightful story that’ll be a pleasant Saturday afternoon watch that is grounded by some terrific performances.
Screening during Toronto International Film Festival 2024.
In theaters April 4th, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Toronto International Film Festival 2024 The Luckiest Man in America webpage.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
Share this:
Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
Leave a Reply