by Scott Batchelor, Contributing Writer
There is nothing more American than game shows on daytime television. For millennials, Bob Barker was a constant presence on sick days spent at home, wrapped in a blanket on the couch, with Sprite bottles and half-eaten crackers scattered around the coffee table. We loved watching people win big money, the mix of skill and luck keeping us glued to the screen. We played armchair quarterback, laughing at contestants who bid just one dollar over the highest bid, and we cheered for the players who truly knew how to work the system. The best contestants were a joy to watch. Think of John Carpenter, the first Who Wants to Be a Millionaire contestant who used his phone-a-friend lifeline just to tell his dad he was about to win a million dollars. Long before reality TV turned everyday people into celebrities, game shows gave us small, thrilling glimpses of 15 minutes of fame. And when I think of game show legends, I think of Michael Larson.
That is what makes The Luckiest Man in America such a compelling premise. It tells the story of Michael Larson (Paul Walter Hauser), a man who did not just play Press Your Luck — he cracked it. The real-life story is about a man who was always looking to make money fast. He had a number of schemes and arrests under his belt, all under the guise of finding the quickest buck with the least amount of work. But while the reality is actually pretty simple, the movie tries to stretch that simplicity into a feature-length story. The problem is, it does not quite know what story to tell, or how to spin it.
We open with Michael conning his way into an audition, charming executive producer Bill Carruthers (David Strathairn), but not winning over casting director Chuck (Shamier Anderson). Before his big break, we see just how impoverished Michael is. He is shopping at a thrift store for a dress shirt and jacket, his ice cream truck is in rough shape, and it is clear he is desperate for a break. The buildup to Michael actually competing on the show is only interesting if you already know what happens. The movie treats his preparation like it is leading to some big reveal, but there is no real suspense, because the audience is just waiting for the moment he gets on stage and starts winning. Maybe if we had seen more of his process, how much he studies, or how obsessed he gets, it would have been more engaging. Instead, it just kind of drifts along until the real story kicks in.
The real tension comes from the network’s reaction, rather than anything happening on the actual game show. It is easily a highlight to watch the producers react with real glee and excitement as this guy hits a hot streak — only for their emotions to turn to worry and panic as they realize he is breaking records and is not slowing down one bit. The confusion and mystery behind the scenes is not touched on nearly as much as one would hope. We get some fun moments of what seems like a cat-and-mouse game between Chuck and Michael, but because the movie tries to be too accurate to real life, nothing substantial comes of this rivalry.
Instead, the film takes an odd middle ground, softening Michael’s edges just enough to make him seem sympathetic, while stopping short of making him unlikable, even at times showing that maybe he is just misunderstood and can be redeemed. The real Michael Larson was a hustler, but the movie tries to frame him as an everyman just looking for a break. It is an approach that makes the film feel oddly restrained, like it is holding back from the most interesting parts of the story.
Paul Walter Hauser keeps things engaging, playing Michael with an uneasy charm that makes him likable yet slightly suspect. Walton Goggins brings the right mix of charisma and polish as Peter Tomarken in typical Walton Goggins fashion. Maisie Williams is also here, though her character does not add much. It feels like they had a chance to cast her, so they did. Anderson’s Chuck, meant to add tension, never quite lands within the film’s restrained approach to the story.
By the time the credits roll, The Luckiest Man in America proves to be a watchable, occasionally entertaining film, but it never quite justifies itself. It is not bad, but it lacks a clear perspective, feeling more like a dramatized Wikipedia entry than a gripping true story. Compared to something like Quiz Show, which has real scandal and depth, this is more of a curious little anecdote stretched to feature length. Michael figured out a pattern. That is it. And in this case, truth is not stranger than fiction; and the fiction definitely needed to be a bit stranger for this to be truly worth watching.
Rating: It Was Just Okay
The Luckiest Man in America is currently playing in theaters
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