Blu-Ray Review: ‘Lottery Ticket’ a Losing Wager For Everyone

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CHICAGO – The comedy “Lottery Ticket,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD, is so forgettable that it seems almost mean to pile on top of the negative reviews that greeted it in theaters. It’s not a horrible film, mostly because of the charms of its three leads, but there’s just not much nice to say about it either. It’s bearable and mildly-diverting, but with so many other great released on the market this month, don’t you want more than that faint praise?

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

Bow Wow plays Kevin Carson, the straight man in the chaotic world of “Lottery Ticket” and the one who keeps the most dignity as the credits roll. Kevin’s a nice kid who struggles with maniacs around every corner. He’s lucky that one of the loose cannons in his neighborhood, Benny (Brandon T. Jackson), happens to be his best friend. Benny’s a fast-talking, loyal friend: The Chris Tucker to Bow Wow’s Ice Cube (although “Friday” is a much better comedy).

Kevin has another loyal friend named Stacie (Naturi Naughton) who has been threatening to leave the friend zone for years and obviously will before movie’s end. The dynamic between Bow Wow, Jackson, and Naughton is easily the best thing about “Lottery Ticket.” It’s the only thing that feels genuine and these three likable leads nearly save the piece.

Lottery Ticket was released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 16th, 2010
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Nearly. Everything that goes on around them comes from a stupid screenplay that starts in motion when Kevin reluctantly buys a lottery ticket and wins millions. The bad timing of winning near the 4th of July holiday means that he will have to hold on to the ticket through the long weekend and not get robbed, harassed, or just-plain ass-kissed when everyone finds out he’s a millionaire. He tells his grandma (Loretta Devine) and she goes and tells local blabbermouth Semaj (Charlie Murphy).

Before he knows it, everyone is trying to get close to Kevin, The local mobster Sweet Tee (Keith David) and gold digger Nikki (Teairra Mari) have obvious motives but everyone seems to want a piece of the future millionaire, especially the ex-con Lorenzo (Gbenga Akinnagbe) and a quartet of locals who go from just hanging out on the step to being a wannabe entourage. Bill Bellamy (silly), Ice Cube (overplaying it), and Mike Epps (the most unbearable thing about the movie) pop up in small roles in this broad ensemble comedy.

“Lottery Ticket” is so broad that it loses all chance of realism. Which is fine, but it’s not funny as a broad comedy. And it feels like a good concept has been wasted as director Erik White does nothing with the comedy, first going so broad that Madea would say the movie is silly and then disgustingly trying to take a left turn into manipulative melodrama about giving back to your ‘hood. Ultimately, “Lottery Ticket” is a harmless comedy that’s just not funny and falls truly flat when it tries to be emotional. It’s more just a series of bad decisions than a total mess. But just barely more.

Official Synopsis:
“Kevin Carson (Bow Wow) has just won $370 million in the Mondo Millions Lottery. But the Lottery Claim Office is closed for a long holiday weekend, so before he can collect, Kevin must figure out how to keep a lid on his good fortune and survive the next three days. As his prize news spreads, Kevin quickly discovers the good, the bad and the ugly in his friends and neighbors. It’s funny what people will do when money is involved — and this free-wheeling comedy has your winning entertainment numbers. Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton, Loretta Devine, Ice Cube, Keith David, Terry Crews, Mike Epps and more make for one all-star jackpot.”

Special Features:
o Lottery Ticket: Custom Kicks
o Junior’s Guide to the Corner Store
o Everybody’s In: Casting For The Lottery Ticket
o The Du-Rag Model
o Additional Scenes

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]