“The Luckiest Man in America� is an ironic title for the story of Michael Larson, the Ohio man who managed to win over $110,000 on a 1984 episode of the game show “Press Your Luck.� The truth is, luck had nothing to do with it.
Larson, played here by Paul Walter Hauser, had memorized the five patterns of seemingly random blinking lights on the Big Board, successfully avoided whammies, and took CBS for an unprecedented sum. As depicted in Samir Oliveros� film inspired by this odd moment in television history, the “luckiest man� title was hastily brainstormed by the panicking producers backstage, hoping to spin their expensive oversight into TV gold.
This flick isn’t a masterpiece, not even a vulgar one, but it’s cheeky and entertaining enough in its giddy hyper-violence, thanks almost entirely to the star turn of Josh Hartnett, who has proven in his recent renaissance that he’s especially great in bozo mode. -- Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service Read moreMovie Review: Josh Hartnett saves 'Fight or Flight' from crash landing
This one will likely only appeal to fans of the genre who appreciate reverence and twists on this kind of material, but it’s bloody � if lightweight � fun for those who enjoy this kind of good old-fashioned romp in the woods. -- Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service Read moreMovie Review: 'Until Dawn' a gory romp in the woods
