Saturday, April 5, 2008

Lucky You (2007) - Eric Roth - Curtis Hanson

May 10, 2004

LUCKY YOU

Screenplay by Eric Roth, Revisions by Curtis Hanson

Synopsis by Brian Aldrich

In Las Vegas, motorcycle riding HUCK CHEEVER is a professional gambler with a reputation for betting aggressively. Despite the huge amounts he is able to win, he loses it all just as quickly. He is on the constant prowl for stake money. When Huck gets really desperate for cash, he pawns his dead mother’s wedding ring that he won from his estranged father LC CHEEVER, a successful and famous professional gambler. Huck doesn’t sleep a lot. He enjoys playing poker too much. His big dream is to win the three million dollar grand prize at the World Series poker tournament.

Meanwhile, BILLIE OFFER, a twenty something single mother from Bakersfield, arrives in town by bus and walks in on her sister SUZANNE having casual booty call sex with Huck. Later on at the Bellagio, Huck is winning until LC sits down to play against him. As they play, LC mocks his son’s moves and ultimately cleans him out of his money and the precious wedding ring. JOHN ROY, an obese money man, offers to bankroll Huck’s 10K buy in for the tournament in return for a 60/40 share. Huck turns him down. Meanwhile, Billie makes the Las Vegas rounds, auditioning her singing talents for every lounge manager in town. Cleaned out, Huck goes to borrow money from Suzanne, but finds out Billie has $1000 in traveler’s checks. Huck convinces her to celebrate her new singing job with him by gambling with her money. He wins enough to repay her “loan,” but eventually loses his winnings. LC stops by to mock him some more. Huck romances Billie and takes her to bed. In the morning, he “borrows” back her $1000 and returns to the poker tables. LC stops by and Huck wins back the wedding ring on a side bet. Huck tries to apologize to Billie, but she feels used and rejects him. Billie tells Suzanne about her night with Huck. Suzanne isn’t surprised Huck used her. Huck enters a preliminary game and loses his chance for a free buy in to the tournament. Desperate for the buy in money, he agrees to a 70/30 deal with John Roy. Huck uses the money to pay back Billie. LC acts vulnerable to get Huck into a one on one game. Huck loses his stake money. JIMMY THE MOUTH bets Huck 10K he can’t run five miles and shoot 18 holes of golf in exactly 3 hours. Billie holds the stopwatch. Huck loses by two seconds. When Huck complains to her for not cheating for him, she gets furious and leaves him. When John Roy learns Huck lost the stake money, his GOONS give Huck a beating and warn him to raise the money or else. Huck learns from Suzanne that Billie has gone home to Bakersfield for a few days. Huck sells the ring to LC to get some cash that he uses to win back his stake money. He goes to Bakersfield to see Billie, but she has no time for him.

The tournament starts. Huck wins games and moves up in position. Billie stops by and introduces him to her little boy NICKY. As the game winds down, Huck finds himself playing against LC and a third player JASON KEYES. In the men’s room, father and son attempt a reconciliation. LC laments his age and mourns for his lost youthful success in poker. The tournament ends with father playing against son. Even though he has the aces, Huck dumps and lets LC win the three million and the fame. Later, LC, suspecting his son’s generosity, plays Huck and loses the money to him. Huck marries Billie and takes her to Paris. He starts to value his life with her and Nicky more than a poker game.

Summary Criticism: While the structure is formulaic, the underwritten father and son relationship shows great promise. The gaming and the eccentric peripheral characters are intriguing.

Lucky You (2007) - imdb

Lucky You (2007) - wiki

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