There’s something genuine at the core of Jackpot that unfortunately gets lost in the movie’s violence, spectacle, and “humor,” which is that life has become so unlivable in America that resorting to a Purge-like scenario now seems more likely than receiving actual care and rights from the state. You can see it whenever Katie (Akwafina), a struggling actor, is given room to express her frustration and desperation. These moments, small as they are, feel real and relatable, and they recall Akwafina’s superior performance in the 2018 drama The Farewell, which I believe she should do more of, instead of films like this. And by films like this, I mean Jackpot, which feels like a streaming filler meant to be consumed and forgotten the moment it ends (assuming you don’t pause and look for something else midway). If you want mindless action, then this film could be for you. John Cena is reliably cool, and Machine Gun Kelly makes a surprisingly hilarious cameo. But if you’re looking for something meaningful, you’ll have to buy a ticket elsewhere.
"A sloppy screenplay that’s otherwise propped up by whatever improv the cast could bring and surprisingly funny fight scenes."
— Peter Debruge
In the near future, a 'Grand Lottery' has been established - the catch: kill the winner before sundown to legally claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot. When Katie Kim mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket, she reluctantly joins forces with amateur lottery protection agent Noel Cassidy who must get her to sundown in exchange for a piece of her prize.
In the near future, a grand lottery allows people to kill the winner to legally obtain their prize money worth billions of dollars. Katie (Akwafina) accidentally joins and has to hire Noel (John Cena) to help her survive.
Is it me or are the action scenes bad? Some of the punches don’t land on the face at all, and I’m not sure if that’s part of the gimmick or if the director just gave up on making the film past mediocre.
Akwafina’s agent, please find her something better to star in, preferably less comedy and more drama. Please.
Spirit Awards
1 win, 1 nomination
