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‘Lucky You’ Shows the Intimate Risks Three of the Characters Take in Vegas
BY MAGGIE SCOTT
They say, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas;” unless it happens to be televised to millions of people from Binnions Casino during the World Series of Poker. Director Curtis Hanson’s new film, “Lucky You” makes gambling really, really palatable; with a nicely turned script and wholesomely congenial performances.
Hanson and Eric Roth’s story never lets any dark issues of compulsive betting mar the, if not glamour of card playing for thousands, even millions of dollars, then the excitement of seeing men and women in various stages of stony faced calm work the hands they have been dealt based on what they believe everybody else is holding.
Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) was born to the game, with a father who schooled him over a pile of pennies, nickels and dimes at the kitchen table. L.C.’s fever hit after being a teacher and trying domestic life. The lure of the cards would not be denied, and L.C. (Robert Duvall) left “Huckleberry” and his mother for a life that has included two World Series’ championships.
The kitchen table turned into the gaming table, with father still exercising the prerogative of advising Huck on such things as prudence, while he takes another pot from his “blaster” son. Since Huck discounts luck, he wouldn’t say that his luck changes when Billie (Drew Barrymore) catches his eye one evening. She’s a recent transfer from Bakersfield, singing at Dino’s lounge.
In his idea of a date, Huck seats her next to him at the poker table and fills her in on such things as “the tell,” “the river,” and “the flop.” Although Billie easily picks up on the tension between Huck and L.C., she’s less acute at recognizing that Huck might gamble with her heart to buy a stake in the World Series. Although her sister (Debra Messing) tried to warn Billie that Huck is one of those people who “doesn’t want to be fixed,” Billie knows the odds and puts it “all in,” anyway.
Poker fanatics might yearn for more of the excellently staged games, but I’m betting that everyone will appreciate the care with which Hanson treats the intimate risks that father, son and girlfriend take, because they’re determined not to “fold” on a chance at forgiveness and happiness.
No one holds their acting cards close to their chest. Honest connections are made, particularly between Bana and Duvall. The sequence where dad picks son clean at a diner is priceless. You can put your money on this one.
A Village Roadshow Pictures production, Warner Bros. Pictures, release, rated PG-13 for language, sexual humor.
