The Luckiest Man in America is a 2024 drama / comedy film which chronicles the day ice cream truck driver Michael Larson (Paul Walter Hauser) found his luck and won over $100,000 on the 80s game show ‘Press Your Luck’.
The film starts at the auditions for the game show, where Larson is arrested for lying about his identity, to give himself more chance of being on the show. Though Casting Director Chuck (Shamier Anderson) calls for him to immediately be removed from the premises, Producer Bill Carruthers (David Strathaim) demands he be brought back to record the show.
Audiences are immediately immersed into the 80s with the bright tones and game show synth reflecting the optimistic Larson as he enters the studio. However, as the game show commences, something is clearly awry as Larson builds his cash to unprecedented numbers, and Carruthers begins to suspect he is cheating. Suspense builds as the creators of the show must decide how to proceed without losing all of their money.
The film was incredible with regard to presenting the 80s gameshow aesthetic, with costumes also transporting audiences to this era. The LA film studio setting was used impressively to create the feeling of a changing location, despite being effectively set in one location.
Raising the Tension
The director Samir Oliveros successfully builds tension in the film with the raising stakes and use of sound to increase pressure. However, the film became frustrating at times as it seemed to recycle the same obstacles presented at the beginning of the film, right to the end. While there were elements that displayed tension, it was not evident for the duration of the film. Considering that the film had been dramatized in certain areas, it seemed more could be done to make sure that the film was persistent in its dramatic, thriller approach. The ending manages to build incredible tension as Larson makes his last play, but the closing sequence takes away from this and leaves the film in quite an unsatisfying place.
That being said, the performances on screen were very enjoyable to watch, with some one-liners dotted throughout to allow for moments of comedy amidst the drama. The emotions of each of the characters palpitate through the screen and are equally felt by the audience members. You can truly understand the hope, the fear, the absolute confusion of each character.
Overall, The Luckiest Man in America was an enjoyable watch, displaying Oliveros’ ability to take a potentially straightforward, known plot and create a compelling narrative with a display of different perspectives and emotions throughout.
Feature Image credit: IFC Films/ Entertainment Weekly