Movie Review: "Luck"

"Luck" is an animated film streaming on Apple TV+ and marks the return of John Lasseter, former Pixar chief, now at Skydance Animation. Despite the hype, the movie falls flat and ends up being one of the worst of the year.

Story and Characters

The main character, Sam (voiced by Eva Noblezada), is a young woman who has aged out of the foster care system and is now living alone. The movie quickly establishes that Sam is incredibly unlucky. Her bad luck is highlighted in various predictable and clichéd ways—she's clumsy, drops things, and constantly finds herself in mishaps.

Plot Development

Sam's bad luck leads her to meet a black cat named Bob (voiced by Simon Pegg with a Scottish accent) who takes her to the Land of Luck. This magical place, reminiscent of "Monsters, Inc.," is where leprechauns create good luck for the world. However, understanding the complex mechanics of this land requires a flow chart, as characters spend a lot of time explaining things.

Themes and Execution

Sam’s goal is to get a lucky penny for her friend Hazel, who is about to be adopted. This leads to a series of overly complicated events with lots of sneaking around and jokes that fall flat. The movie tries to convey a message about the importance of failure and the dangers of overprotective parenting but buries it under layers of glitter and confusing plot points.

Performances and Visuals

Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, and Nicholas Hoult voice their characters well, but the movie doesn't give them much to work with. Sam remains sunny and upbeat despite her challenges, making her character seem one-dimensional. The visual design is colorful, but the character designs are unappealing and the dialogue is uninspired.

Conclusion

"Luck" might entertain very young children with its whimsical creatures and bright colors, but older kids and adults will likely find it boring and frustrating. Despite its potential, the film ends up being a convoluted and predictable mess.

Availability

"Luck" is now streaming on Apple TV+ and available in theaters. If you have young kids with low standards for entertainment, it might be worth a watch. Otherwise, you can probably skip it.