Growing up, summer vacations meant three things. Spending days playing sports ,evenings with Nick at Nite’s Summer Block Party with my favorite sitcoms of yesteryear, and endless hours glued to the Game Show Network. From Match Game to older episodes of The Dating Game and Love Connection, the network’s options felt endless. One show that stood out as a youngster was Press Your Luck. The random nature of the cycling game board always added a level of excitement.
Fast forward a few decades and this game show enthusiast turned film critic laid his eyes on what I expected to be an ideal blend of two loves: film and game shows. Samir Oliveros’ The Luckiest Man In America had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and felt like it would be a surefire contender as one of my favorite films upon its release.
However, with expectations comes the reality that high expectations may sometimes be met with disappointment. Despite a tremendous Paul Walter Hauser performance, The Luckiest Man In America feels like a missed opportunity that stumbles under the weight of its uneven pacing and an abrupt finale that left me unsatisfied.
The Luckiest Man In America tells the fascinating story of Michael Larson, an ice cream truck driver who schemed his way to an audition for Press Your Luck. Although Larson’s gimmick was uncovered during the process, Larson still managed to land a spot on the game show, ultimately leading to the 1984 scandal following his record-breaking win of $110,237 dollars.
Maggie Briggs and Samir Oliveros’ screenplay never capitalizes on the appeal of the remarkable true story. While the films hook brings audiences in, the screenplay remains surface level as the “real time” element works against it, limiting both its narrative momentum and ability to capture an emotional depth. The duo’s screenplay attempts to elicit empathy for Larson, but the lack of depth keeps its audience at arm’s length.
It’s a shame, because The Luckiest Man In America wastes yet another fantastic turn by Paul Walter Hauser. Over the years, Hauser has continued to elevate his status is one of the industries most reliable and compelling actors. Despite the lackluster screenplay, Hauser elevates the material, creating a character and performance that is impossible to turn away from. It’s just a shame that the film doesn’t match that intensity and focus.
While the supporting cast features the likes of Johnny Knoxville, Maisie Williams, Shamier Anderson and Walton Goggins and David Strathairn, their talents are wasted as the film doesn’t ask much of them. The majority of the film relegates the supporting cast to the background- it’s ultimately the Paul Walter Hauser show.
What makes The Luckiest Man In America so frustrating is its waste of an incredible 30-second movie pitch. There’s no denying that this film should be better and easily stand as one of the years most entertaining and compelling cinematic experiences. But, as abrupt and underwhelming finale makes clear, not every true story can be capitalized with a compelling cinematic experience. Quiz Show, The Luckiest Man In America is not.
