'Jackpot!' Reviews: "A sloppy screenplay that’s otherwise propped up by whatever improv the cast could bring and surprisingly funny fight scenes."

         On August 15, 2024, Amazon MGM Studios released 'Jackpot!', which has received a mixed reception from critics, currently holding at 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, the lottery system in the future is a bit darker as killing the winner before sundown equates to taking their winnings. When an unwitting recipient has the ticket, she must partner with an amateur lottery protection agent in exchange for a cut of the winnings. Unfortunately, his enemy is also trying to track her down with his eyes on the cash prize. The ensemble cast includes John Cena, Simu Liu, and Awkwafina. But what did the critics say? 

       Alissa Wilkinson of New York Times says, "Jackpot!” does not quite stick the landing. Directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Rob Yescombe, the movie sustains an admirably zany energy, though its jokes often feel underwritten."

        Jake Coyle of Associated Press was less impressed, stating, "It’s amiably disordered but the high-concept always feels like a ridiculous goof, and its predictable machinations grow increasingly tiresome. Still, this is the rare film where you can say Machine Gun Kelly is a surprisingly perfect tonal fit." Continuing, "Feig, the director of “Bridesmaids,” “Spy,” “The Heat” and 2016’s “Ghostbusters,” may be more adept at balancing broad comedy and action sequences than any other working filmmaker. But the big-screen comedy heyday he was once so central to has largely faded in recent years, as studios have grown disappointingly reluctant to gamble with laughs in theaters. It’s hard not to see “Jackpot!” — which pales next to Feig’s better films — as an example of this diminished era for theatrical comedies. Then again, as Awkwafina notes in “Jackpot!” Hollywood stardom isn’t what it once was. Now, she says, even wrestlers and YouTubers can do it."

Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unsplash

        Marco Vito Oddo of We Got This Covered writes, "Jackpot!' delivers a delicious deranged mix of dark comedy and thrill ride. While its silliness may not appeal to all, the film's clever premise, strong performances by Awkwafina and John Cena, and well-timed humor make for a great experience." 

       Peter Debruge of Variety notes, "A sloppy screenplay that’s otherwise propped up by whatever improv the cast could bring and surprisingly funny fight scenes." Adding, "Jackpot!” demands a trickier kind of physical comedy than Awkwafina’s been asked to deliver before, and even though her character is supposed to read as clumsy and incompetent, it takes considerable skill to pull off the routines that action choreographer James Young has in store for her. Given his WWE background, Cena is far more accustomed to making fake fighting seem entertaining, but once again reminds of his good-sport sense of humor (as the scene-stealer did earlier this year in “Ricky Stanicky”)."