Think about “The Purge” as a Bidenomics satire!
We’ll get comedy maestro Paul Feig of “Bridesmaids” fame to direct and lasso Awkwafina and John Cena to headline.
What may go mistaken? Strive completely all the things.
“Jackpot” is so unhealthy that, by the midway mark, your senses have been bludgeoned right into a stupor. The remaining is neither good, unhealthy nor detached. It simply exists and also you wait patiently for the candy launch of the tip credit.
And then you definately’re met with a crush of unfunny bloopers. The ache … it by no means ends.
Awkwafina stars as Katie Kim, a former baby star who returns to Los Angeles circa 2030 to revive her performing profession. She actually hits the jackpot when she wins California’s “Purge”-like lottery. Sure, she’ll be a billionaire quickly sufficient, however provided that she lives lengthy sufficient to seize the payout.
You see, this lottery permits anybody to kill the winner earlier than sunset and get the cash.
There’s extra inane guidelines. You’ll be able to’t shoot the lottery winner, however knives and different lethal implements are truthful sport. And you may rent individuals to guard you throughout that susceptible, post-announcement window.
That’s the place John Cena’s Noel is available in.
He’s glad to maintain Katie secure for a share of her winnings. He seems to be the one particular person in all of California who has her greatest pursuits at coronary heart. (And she will’t cease trashing him…) Everybody else is lunging for the closest weapon to off Katie.
Hilarious, proper? It’s even worse than it sounds.
You’ll be able to’t win should you don’t play. Starring Awkwafina, John Cena and directed by Paul Feig, Jackpot! arrives August 15. 🎬 https://t.co/HeW9EjdOKi pic.twitter.com/JECLP2NCFJ
— moviefone (@moviefone) August 12, 2024
First, we’re pummeled with third-rate “John Wick” motion the place dozens upon dozens try to fail to kill Katie within the first 20 minutes.
Home wives. Yoga devotees. Karate masters. Everybody. All armed to the tooth.
Keep in mind, that is Awkwafina not the second coming of Rambo.
She’s a petite actress (5’1″ in keeping with Wikipedia) taking part in a personality with no combating skill. But she goes toe to toe with educated warriors double her weight.
Noel’s combating chops provide some logical steadiness in Katie’s quest for the cash, and he IS John Cena. It’s nonetheless so absurd on its face – and never in any means that resembles humor.
And that’s roughly the film. Sure, “Shang Chi” alum Simu Liu seems as a competing bodyguard glad to take over for Noel. It’s a smorgasbord of man’s inhumanity to man with eye-roll one-liners peppering the screenplay.
The movie’s satirical potential is usually ignored.
Is that this a slam on California? Technically, sure, however there’s nothing within the screenplay to construct on that premise. May it’s an assault on capitalism? Most likely, however as soon as once more the story lacks any sort of tooth.
It’s simply ugly from begin to end.
Operating gags fail the primary time however preserve exhibiting up as if to mock the viewers. Katie’s irrational rage in opposition to Noel, the one soul who treats her with kindness, makes us pine for her swift demise.
She’s essentially the most grating heroine in latest reminiscence, performed by an actress with Hollywood’s most grating voice.
Everyone seems to be making an attempt very onerous with zero outcomes. Even Cena, so hilarious in “Ricky Stanicky,” can’t do a lot together with his character.
Machine Gun Kelly seems mid-movie as himself, proving that “Jackpot” can really, one way or the other worsen.
HiT or Miss: “Jackpot” fails on so many ranges you could want to observe it twice to catch all of it. However for the love of all that’s holy … don’t.