Synopsis
Jackpot! (2024) will be set in California during 2030 where California is struggling to resolve its devastating financial problems and has come up with an unusual and deadlt solution. This innovation is the “Grand Lottery,” which is an extreme raffle with unimaginable rewards. Anyone can purchase a lottery ticket but winning it requires you to stay alive until sunset in order to claim your money, which comes with the reward of being hunted down by everyone eligible to legally claim the winnings.
A down-and-out former child star is added to the mix: Katie Kim, played by Awkwafina. She is looking for a break and desperately trying to get back into the industry. As luck would have it, she gets an accidentally winning lottery and changes her fortune for $3.6 billion. Every bounty hunter and assassin in the state single handedly turn their attention to her.
The Kentucky born actress does her best to try to treat the issue as an opportunity, but gets put in a position where she is forced to go on the run. It is at this same point that she realizes that there is no one who she can trust. No Iyoel Cassidy, self-styled “jackpot protector” and the man behind the Instagram account and body guard turn mercenary tasked to freely protect lottery winners. Cassidy volunteers to team up with her and cut her in on the prize head of chaotic body guard mercenary freshly out of the Marines.
In this action-filled chase of a dystopian Los Angeles, the two try to escape sociopathic killers which reveal trusted allies also have ulterior motives. Along this journey, they experience the gruesome and ridiculous sides of society with users who are more than willing to monetize their pain, bounty hunters, corrupt officials, and influencers vying for their attention crossed with fame.
As the sun sets, Katie is not tasked with how to survive physically, but mentally and existentially in a world that has gone off the rails. Together social commentary fulfills the need for emotional depth alongside senseless violence that begs the question whether surviving within a crude world is even justifiable.
Cast & Crew
Main Cast:
Katie Kim as a reality-warping, neglected Theostra, played by Awkwafina: Struggling through a void of insanity — a faded child superstar turned relievable state pariah.
Noel Cassidy as the grammatically incorrect conundrum diologue we didn’t know we needed, played by John Cena: a vigilante with known and unknown origins who comes to aid with dubious aims.
Adding fuel to the fire further is Simu Liu as Louis Lewis: a self serving and slippery socialite embroiled in Katie’s saga.
Shadi strips away the expectation you have of every character, played by Ayden Mayeri: A rash character who you are left pondering if they are friend or foe at every twist and turn.
Donald Elise Watkins acts as DJ Donald: A radio personality who profits off the discord for amusement.
Seann William Scott as Robust Man: A bounty hunter who balances between comical and frightening caricature.
Dolly de Leon as Grandma Tala: Katie’s whimsical and possibly violent grandmother.
Machine Gun Kelly (Colson Baker) appears as himself in a self-mocking celebrity cameo.
Crew:
Director: Paul Feig – In genre-blending comedies like Spy and Bridesmaids, Feig incorporates action and satire while maintaining his unique style.
Screenwriter: Rob Yescombe – The author offers sharp wit through biting social commentary.
Producers: Paul Feig, Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Laura Fischer.
Cinematographer: John Schwartzman – Focuses on the high-octane chaos in glitzy Los Angeles.
Music Composer: Theodore Shapiro – Covers both comedic and action elements with a dynamic score for the film.
The film was produced by Amazon Studios, Feigco Entertainment, and Roth/Kirschenbaum Films. While set in California, principal photography occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, and post-production effects transformed the city into a Los Angeles ‘future’ from the simulated glitz, grime, and surrealism.
Critique and Users Ratings
IMDb Score: 5.8 out of 10 from 29,000+ viewers
Rotten Tomatoes: 31% of critics, 51% of audience liked the film
Viewers divided into two groups when it came to Jackpot! switching between praising or heckling it. Praise surrounded the originality and satirical twist that critiqued greed, fame, and surveillance culture. Comedy recognition was given to the range of Awkhafina’s portrayal, balancing pity with her trademark slapstick humor. John Cena delivered as well, portraying an easy-going but comical addition to the action Awkhafina brought with her frantic energy.
Criticism around the film also followed its unbalanced tone. Some reviewers raised concern that the brutal action and slapstick comedy left them no clue as to whether the film was meant to be taken seriously. Blended with a storyline promising sharp social commentary, the film lacked cohesion. Furthermore, its side characters were regarded by some as grotesque figures instead of caricatures; devoid of depth and only serving a vague purpose.
Many, despite the mixed reviews, managed to find the chaotic enjoyment in the film. The whiplash pacing combined with uncanny action scenes created the illusion of entertainment for those that expected nothing deeper than surface level. Societal violence desensitization was hinted at in the world building and was strong enough to be felt as a jarring reflection aimed at the viewer’s media landscape.
Themes and Interpretation
Jackpot! is a comedic action-thriller at face value, but it serves as a blunt, albeit an incomplete, allegory regarding the severe societal preoccupations centered around fame and wealth. In particular, it focuses on the brutal treatment of success and how media consumes violence and gorges on turning it into entertainment. With every person being a smartphone user and literally everyone’s life feeling like a performance, the film posits the question: is it at all feasible to survive without being part of the spectacle?
The character arc of Katie Kim works as a softer representation in a world that expects constant performance as a form of self-rebranding. Contrasting her is Noel Cassidy, a man sculpted by the systems that then taught him to survive in them. Their dual journey — emotional and physical — poses the question: is it actually safe, let alone sensible, to trust a fellow human in a savage, commodified society?
Conclusion
Jackpot! is an entertaining film but also an absolute disaster, and you still can’t look away from the train wreck. There’s bound to be something entertaining about a fast-paced film that is visually stimulating and conceptually bold. It shuffles danger, derision and critique into one unforgettable slice of cinema, and will stay stuck in your mind for a while after the credits. It feels like mark of the highest class of society and a call out with or without the added charm credit from Awkwafina, but it does feel like the premise offers a lot of potential that is left underexplored.
For those who fancy dystopian satire, offbeat action comedies, or movies that incorporate the phrase, “What if winning the lottery meant dying?” Jackpot! could very well be worth the risk.
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