When Michael Larson (Paul Walter Hauser) auditions for Press Your Luck<\/em>, it\u2019s clear the ice cream truck driver watches the game show very closely. His obsession wins over executive producer Bill (David Strathairn), who chooses him against the advice of casting director Chuck (John Wick: Chapter 4<\/em>\u2019s Shamier Anderson), who immediately clocks the guy as \u201ccreepy.\u201d Once taping begins for the show hosted by Peter Tomarken (Walton Goggins), Michael takes a minute to find his footing under the lights and in front of the audience, but then he begins a lucky streak that just keeps on going, breaking records and raising suspicions that his success is more than just luck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Luckiest Man in America<\/em> struggles to fill its scant 90 minutes, even with the episode taping appearing to unfurl in near real-time. Larsen\u2019s story is fascinating enough to have garnered other episodes of TV and documentaries, but there\u2019s not enough meat on the bone here. There\u2019s a strange interlude where Michael stumbles onto the set of a talk show whose host (Johnny Knoxville) welcomes him on stage, and it\u2019s unclear whether this actually happened \u2014 or what it even adds here, beyond padding it a few minutes of time. (And giving Jackass<\/em> star Knoxville a bit of work that doesn\u2019t likely involve injury.)\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hauser has consistently turned in compelling work since his breakout role in I, Tonya<\/em>, and he\u2019s really strong here as the slippery, fidgety protagonist. The tight camerawork focuses on his minute facial expressions and eye movements, and Hauser\u2019s performance looks great, even under this microscope. Michael isn\u2019t the most sympathetic lead character \u2014 and he\u2019s not intended to be \u2014 but Hauser\u2019s portrayal and the script make it clear that he is going through it, even beyond the stress of appearing on a national game show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is only the second feature for director Samir Oliveros, who co-wrote the script with Maggie Briggs \u2014 and he adds some nice stylistic and vintage touches, including using a few iris ins and moments glimpsed through old-school television sets. It feels period appropriate without reveling in nostalgia. The bulk of the action feels like it takes place in real time, and the editing ratchets up the tension as Michael\u2019s winnings continue to climb.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, I struggled to be emotionally invested in The Luckiest Man in America<\/em> beyond its momentary thrills. It takes a compelling true story of a record-breaking game show appearance and doesn\u2019t do much with it on a deeper level. It ends with a moment that likely meant to be thought-provoking, but it just feels unfinished. There\u2019s the requisite credits scene showing the real Michael, his fellow contestants, and host Peter Tomarken, and that doesn\u2019t do anything other than tick off a box on the based-on-a-true-story-movie checklist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At least second-place game show contestants can go home with a set of steak knives, but The Luckiest Man in America<\/em> doesn\u2019t leave the audience with much. With good performances from a talented ensemble, this thriller is watchable enough during its running time, but it makes about as lasting an impression as an average episode of a game show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “The Luckiest Man in America” is in theaters Friday.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/luckiest2-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nC+<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n