What’s it rated? PG-13
When? 2022
Where’s it showing? Paramount+
David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me, Collateral Beauty) directs this story about Evart, Michigan, couple Jerry (Bryan Cranston) and Marge Selbee (Annette Benning), who discover a loophole in the Massachusetts WinFall lottery and begin to win big money. Based on the article by Jason Fagone with a screenplay by Brad Copeland, the story explores how the Selbees helped revitalize their small town while fending off a competing group of lottery players headed by a snotty Harvard student (Uly Schlesinger).
This feel-good story may not be big screen-worthy, but it’s a charming diversion if you’re already a Paramount subscriber. Cranston is terrific as everyman Jerry, a nice human being with the math skills to discover a way to game the system. It’s not cheating; it’s a loophole the lottery makers missed, and even after it’s discovered, it’s clear the Selbees haven’t done anything wrong. They merely exploited a loophole that was there for anyone to discover.
Soon the Selbees bring their fellow townsfolk into the fold, but tension arises when a group of Harvard students try to intimidate the players of Evart. Can Jerry outwit the university upstarts? It’s a sweet, earnest film that’s not going to win any awards, but it’s a charming diversion. (96 min.) Δ
This article appears in Jul 7-17, 2022.