THE STORY – When Katie, an unsuspecting newcomer to Los Angeles, receives a winning Grand Lottery ticket, she becomes a target for virtually everyone in the city. Running for her life with a drone tracking her every move, Katie reluctantly agrees to share her prize with amateur jackpot protector Noel and his smarmy archrival Louis Lewis if they can get her to the finish line alive.
THE CAST – Awkwafina, John Cena, Ayden Mayeri, Donald Elise Watkins, Sam Asghari, Murray Hill & Simu Liu
THE TEAM – Paul Feig (Director) & Rob Yescombe (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 104 Minutes
They say lottery winners have among the lowest life expectancy rates, and director Paul Feig has taken that literally in his latest action-comedy satire “Jackpot!” Feig, known for his outlandish costar team-ups (see Melissa McCarthy and Jason Statham in “Spy”) and the ridiculous scenarios he puts his actors in, brings to life a novel pairing with Awkwafina and John Cena as two people trying to survive a life-or-death lottery drawing. Like the many unlikely duos before them, these two lean into their comedic chops to endlessly entertain, particularly as Awkwafina throws jab after jab at Cena. While the film as a whole may not be Feig’s strongest comedic work, screenwriter Rob Yescombe’s script is full of wit and creativity, which is always welcome.
Before we see any action on screen, Yescombe’s biting words hit a little too close to home. Set in the not-so-distant future, the city of Los Angeles is in economic turmoil due to the Great Depression of 2026. Homeless encampments, failing infrastructure, and people in need of help are seen throughout the city. Unfortunately, if you travel anywhere in Los Angeles today, you know this is the truth for many. The audience doesn’t get an explanation as to what happened leading up to this – although we could look at our current inflation crisis as a start – but the California Grand Lottery was set up by the New Government so that people could have a chance to rebuild their lives. However, the government doesn’t really want to give them all the money. Therefore, winners have to face off against their fellow citizens, who get a portion of the jackpot if they kill the winner before the sunset. The chaos in action is evident when the film opens with a man (Seann William Scott) on the run from potential murderers. No one can be trusted during those few tense hours, not even a sweet grandmother (played by a deliciously evil Dolly De Leon).
Fast forward to 2030, aspiring actress Katie (Awkwafina) has just moved into a decrepit Los Angeles Airbnb with Shadi (Ayden Mayeri), a kooky wannabe actress herself, and DJ (Donald Elise Watkins), who is also an actual DJ. It is clear that she needs her big break, but the one she least expects comes when she’s declared the winner of a $3.6 billion lottery. On the run for her life, amateur jackpot protector Noel (Cena) shows up to help Katie fend off as many would-be murderers as she can, hoping he’ll get a little bit of the money himself after the night.
There are several life-or-death action moments in the film, and they’re some of the most entertaining ones you’ll see this year, all thanks to the creative ways the team uses the setting around them. Once Katie finds out she’s the winner; she has to dodge flying chairs and stilettos from actresses in an audition room and later avoid getting crushed by karate and yoga class students. A trip to a defunct wax museum, with horribly crafted figures that would bring Madame Tussauds to tears, cleverly makes use of all the props and gadgets inside the exhibit rooms as Katie tries to escape her desperate roommates. Another mad dash to a celebrity’s home is a silly callback to an earlier scene in the film.
It is clear that Katie isn’t equipped for all the chaos that comes her way, but with Noel in the picture, she’s got a chance at surviving to sundown. With his large stature and wrestling past, Cena is the sidekick anyone would want in this situation. But aside from their physical capabilities, the Awkwafina-Cena team-up is elevated by their comedy chops. They let it shine here, with Awkwafina taking cheapshots at Cena every chance she gets, whether by making fun of his look or behavior, and Cena enduring it like a champ. It’s not the funniest material a Feig film has delivered, and they don’t have quite as incredible back-and-forth sass as McCarthy and Rose Byrne in “Spy,” but it’s still enjoyable to watch. You might not expect screenwriter Yescombe to give Katie and Noel emotional depth to help us better understand their actions, mainly the noble reason why Noel insists on helping lottery winners. It’s a surprisingly delightful bit of heart given to a movie that most would quickly write off as just a silly comedy.
Once Katie and Noel’s situation becomes quite dire, they enlist the help of Noel’s rival, Louis Lewis (Simu Liu), who runs a high-tech protection agency and claims he can help Katie make it to the end of the day. But they quickly realize they put their trust into the wrong hands and must find their way out of another disaster. Though he’s not utilized much in the film, Liu plays the shady tech villain quite well, and he even gets to poke fun at Cena’s Noel.
Overall, “Jackpot!” is an easy watch that delights with its comedic team-up and sometimes provides poignant commentary on our increasingly expensive modern world. You can always count on Feig to deliver outlandish ideas with his comedies, but it’s also nice to see one ground itself emotionally at times. “Jackpot!” also reminds us that if one of us is lucky enough to win the grand prize, it’s best to remain anonymous.
