Sometimes, winning the lottery is about more than the cash.
Set in 2030, Jackpot! follows Katie Kim (Awkwafina), an actress whose trying to find steady work in the heart of Los Angeles. When she accidentally comes into the possession of a winning lottery ticket of a multi-billion dollar jackpot, she can’t believe it. But, in LA, the winner is also subject to a rule that anyone can kill the winner before sundown legally in order to claim their cast prize for themselves. As she fights to survive, she enlists the support of Noel Cassidy (John Cena), an amateur lottery protection agent who will help her live through the day for a fee. Facing off against a horde of jackpot hunters (not to mention Noel’s old nemesis, Louis Lewis [Simu Liu]), the two kick, scratch and burn their way through the city, in the hopes of making it out alive.
Directed by Paul Feig, Jackpot! has all the ingredients to win big but struggles to cash in. Having made films such as Bridemaids and 2016’s Ghostbusters, Feig has a history of embracing outlandish humour with wild premises. As Awkwafina and Cena bulldoze their way through an endless stream of hunters, clearly his goal is for Jackpot! to fit neatly into this style of comedy.
And, frankly, there’s a lot to like about Jackpot!. After all, the film still has a winning cast to make it worth the (metaphorical) ticket. Even in the moments when the script doesn’t always work, Cena, Awkwafina and Liu are up to the challenge. As the film’s antagonist, Liu carries himself with a sinister snarl. At the same time, Awkwafina is bouncing around onscreen with her trademark, brash humour.
But the biggest winner here remains Cena. One can’t underestimate the comedic abilities of the former wrestler. Even in his silliest roles, Cena’s ability to offer a goofy mug makes him feel likeable and, at times, innocent. In Jackpot!, Cena lets his silly side fly, committing to each scene no matter how ridiculous. (Though, perhaps the best scenes come when the madness winds down. Although the film thinks the violence is the selling point, it’s the quieter moments between Awkwafina and Cena that give it a soul.)
However, it’s worth noting that the film stumbles in moments because of its script. Written by Rob Yescombe, Jackpot! holds tightly to its wild side but doesn’t always keep itself together. Despite its zany atmosphere and solid performances, the film doesn’t always connect the dots. While the film remains fun, some confusing motivations keep this broad comedy from truly spreading its wings in spaces.
At its heart, this is a film about what it means to truly win. This is set in a world where the massive jackpot is more than tantalizing to the residents of Los Angeles. When the winner is announced, millions of people turn their sights on the winner in a Purge-esque attempt to claim the winnings for themselves. Driven into the ground by poverty, their murderous rampage only stems from a desire to climb out of the burden of debt, finally giving them everything they think they want.
But not with Katie.
Having just returned to Los Angeles from caring for her elderly mother, she has no interest in her massive windfall. When her name is announced, Katie struggles to not only to survive but also really has no interest in thinking of herself as a winner either. To her, the cash isn’t the issue. Instead, it’s about leaving her mark on the world. Even though she is hardly wealthy, the money isn’t the point, especially when you can use it to help others. She wants to be successful on her own terms—and the madness of greedy residents isn’t worth the cost.
In the end, Jackpot! is well worth a night of at-home streaming (though, maybe not the price of the theatre). Make no mistake, backed by the strength of its cast, Jackpot! proves itself to be fun, fast and (mostly) furious. Even so, despite the riches at his fingers, Feig doesn’t quite break the bank.
Jackpot! is available on Prime Video on Thursday, August 15th, 2024.
