Welcome back for another installment of Review Stew! This week we have a movie that is based on true events. We’re going to travel back to 1984 and try to avoid the Whammies with… The Luckiest Man in America (2024).
Title: The Luckiest Man in America
Director: Samir Oliveros
Released: September 5, 2024 – Canadian premiere (Toronto International Film Festival), April 4, 2025 – theatrical release in United States
Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
Watched via: VOD rental
Michael Larson (Paul Walter Hauser) is an ice cream truck driver who also happens to be a big fan of the game show “Press Your Luck”. In fact, one day he weasels his way into an audition for the show with a backstory and everything ready to go.
Things seem to be going his way until the real person who had that interview time slot shows up. Instead of kicking him out and banning him from the studio, the executive producer decides to book him on the next day’s show as the lovable underdog contestant.
Nobody could’ve predicted what happened next.
In the first round, Michael has a rough go of things. He answers questions incorrectly and as he finally gains some momentum he lands on a Whammy, wiping out his winnings and resetting him back at $0. Though when round two starts, Michael goes on an absolute tear. The rate at which he is piling up winnings has everyone backstage convinced that Michael is somehow gaming the whole system.
Without being able to definitively prove that Michael is cheating, will Michael’s luck ever run out?
I was not at all aware of the story behind The Luckiest Man in America (2024) prior to watching it. Despite that, I still feel like I was able to understand what was going on throughout the movie. This happens to be a scenario where you don’t necessarily have to do homework before watching. If you know the actual story, great you’ll have a point of reference. But if you don’t know anything about the story, you won’t be lost or left scratching your head by any means.
I am a big fan of Paul Walter Hauser and love when we get to see him in more than just a straight-up comedy. He has some dramatic chops and doesn’t have a problem displaying them when needed. What’s really impressive is if you look up the real Michael Larson, Hauser was able to match his gestures and mannerisms to a tee.
One thing I loved about the film is how it refuses to spoon-feed the audience. It doesn’t steer us toward liking or rooting for anyone in particular. There’s no obvious hero or villain. It lays out the story and challenges us to make sense of it on our own, just like the backstage employees.
While this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, The Luckiest Man in America (2024) is definitely worth at least one viewing.
So, have you already seen The Luckiest Man in America (2024)?
If so, leave a comment below or reach out on Bluesky and let me know what you thought of it!
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