by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
Paul Feig’s latest directorial venture, Jackpot!, pairs Awkwafina and John Cena as two unlikely companions in a fast-paced fight for survival with several billion dollars on the line. The action/comedy depicts a near future where the Californian government hosts monthly lotteries with hopes of injecting money into the struggling economy. This core trio — Feig, Cena, and Awkwafina — have all contributed to enjoyable projects over their years in the industry, so Jackpot! certainly has the potential to be a light romp to view with family and friends.
The marketing touts this release as a buddy comedy film with a charismatic duo that will pull you in from the jump. Your mileage on that may vary. Here’s the thing: At this point, you probably know the shtick of the two protagonists. Cena’s found his niche as a funny jock-type who may not be the smartest, but certainly can hold his own in a fist fight. He has a distinct sense of humor and comedic timing that is recognizable and beloved by his fans. Awkwafina similarly has a very singular comedic style that is harder to describe, but is pretty consistent throughout her appearances. If you find these people funny, you will almost certainly buy into the movie. They’re basically playing themselves in a slightly fantastical world. Their jokes could be slotted into pretty much any other role they have portrayed in the past with little to no inconvenience. The issue is for the individuals who fail to connect with these tones, as the characters are relatively one-note without any variance or nuance. The pair knows what their fans want and deliver it with fidelity. And the personalities mesh together fairly well, so the dynamic is relatively satisfying. But it can grow old quickly, especially if you are already unable to connect with these actors.
A lot of the quippy dialogue in this film also fails due to a lack of authenticity. Humor has to be grounded in reality to some extent. A joke is not about making each character say the most inane thing possible. Many of the jokes are stunted because human beings simply do not talk or behave like the individuals on screen. Situational comedy only works when the audience can reasonably put themselves in the situation. Instead, Jackpot!’s humor really shines with the physical beats and staged action. There are some truly creative fight scenes that manage to surprise without relying on gratuitous violence in any way. This aspect of the film is thankfully quite refreshing.
Additionally, there is a good dynamic between the leads. There are some moments where they are able to sell the friendship in a compelling way. A few moments feel a little rushed, but the life-and-death circumstances allowed me to buy into the speedy connection, and rapidly invest in the relationship. The film also attempts to inject some humor with some quick cameos and side characters, which are superfluous and a little hard to swallow, because they opted for some controversial characters. Some of the side characters work marginally better, but again, they suffer because so many behave in a way that feels completely alien. The reliance on nonsensical dialogue for cheap laughs leaves the film feeling immature.
Jackpot! also ventures to work in some kind of social commentary or critique of fame and notoriety, but it all feels completely toothless. Quick scenes of homelessness and robberies aren’t enough to craft a meaningful message about humanity. This is far from a killing blow, because the film is clearly a silly comedy and not a pointed political vision, and it is unlikely that the audience would go into ut expecting a life-changing peek at the human condition. But the fact that these elements are completely unnecessary make their appearance all the more grating and insufferable. Ultimately, this film might appeal to individuals who love the lead performers and already invest in an Amazon subscription. I am just left wondering how large that Venn diagram is, given the repetitive nature of the leads’ careers.
Rating: It Was Just Okay
Jackpot! is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video
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