What to Watch This Weekend – The Luckiest Man in America

The Luckiest Man in America is a (mostly) true story about a man who beat the system. Michael Larson (Paul Walter Hauser) doesn’t have his life together. He currently works as an ice cream driver and has a strained relationship with his family. But in 1984, Larson discovers a secret and concocts a scheme. Working his way to the front of the line, Larson auditions to be a contest on CBS’ Press Your Luck. The popular game show, hosted by Peter Tomarken (Walton Goggins) allows contestants to win random amounts of prize money. They can subsequently risk losing it all or multiply their earnings through seemingly chance. Piquing the curiosity of director Bill Carruthers (David Strathairn), CBS allows Larson to compete. Once on the show, however, Larson begins racking up the winnings in an alarming fashion.

What works in The Luckiest Man in America is Hauser’s performance and the focus on Larson’s intriguing strategy. In this dramatized retelling, first-time director Samir Oliveros keeps things tight. The entirety of the movie examines the events of this one episode, and that gives The Luckiest Man in America a great deal of tension. Audiences will likely become enamored by both Larson’s run and CBS’ reactions. As his haul goes far north of his predecessors, executives begin pointing fingers, making accusations, and pressuring Larson to end the streak. Those unfamiliar with how things turn out will certainly become hooked (like most of America was at the time) and stay tuned to witness the conclusion.

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People who prefer deep explorations of characters and adherence to the facts may not enjoy The Luckiest Man in America as much as others. This is a tricky story to tell. Larson’s ability to stick it to the system resonated with many viewers. People find it easy to root for the underdog who outsmarts greedy corporations. The issue is that Larson was a complicated fellow with a checkered past. Oliveros wants to balance his story, and as such works in ways to humanize all parties. Unfortunately, this strategy involves the inclusion of some fictionalized encounters. While these creativity liberties might be justified to provide context, the result makes it hard to root for anyone involved. The lack of a hero, even a flawed one, could weaken people’s connection to the story.

The Luckiest Man in America is an intriguing tale. Hauser’s commanding performance keeps the proceedings tense as he represents a desperate man full of confidence. While some may crave a bit more meat on the bone, there’s enough to warrant a watch regardless of one’s previous familiarity with the events.  

Recommended if you enjoyed: Quiz Show, Slumdog Millionaire

The Luckiest Man in America is now available to see in select theaters across the globe.

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