Lucky Numbers (2000)

Interestingly, both Lucky Numbers and Diamond Men are set in Central Pennsylvania (essentially the Harrisburg area... this is just a coinky-dink – I’m not doing a Central Penn theme). Oh – and Lucky Numbers is also set around Christmastime, although I don’t consider it to be a Christmas movie. 

Synopsis:  World’s whiniest weatherman works with wild, wishful wench, wonky wanker, winsome wrongdoer, wins whopping wager. 

Blurb From the VHS Jacket: “John Travolta ‘is truly irresistible’ as Russ Richards, a weatherman in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Russ is a local celebrity, but when an unusually mild winter causes his snowmobile dealership to take a plunge, Russ needs a get-rich quick scheme –and fast. With is greedy girlfriend (Lisa Kudrow) – the TV station’s lotto-ball girl- and a criminally minded buddy (Tim Roth), Russ hatches a plan to fix the lottery.” 

What Did I Learn?: Not that many people will shake your hand if you inform them that you spend a lot of your free time masturbating. 

You Might Like This Movie If: You know that anything can happen during a lottery draw.

 

Really?: Hold on – Dick Simmons (Ed O'Neill) has both the winning ticket and enough evidence to put Crystal behind bars if she complains, and yet he agrees to give her half the money? No way. 

Rating: Lucky Numbers is far from a great movie – it veers awkwardly between black comedy and a few other genres, and the ending seems incredibly off-kilter; several characters - especially Tim Roth's and Lisa Kudrow's, perform downright evil actions, yet Nora Ephron tries to have it both ways by keeping things light-hearted and silly. Still, Lucky Numbers is entertaining, Travolta and the other cast members work well together (Kudrow is especially funny as his beautiful-but-conniving girlfriend), and the film provides some good laughs. Speaking of which, watch for a cameo appearance by Michael Moore(!) as Kudrow’s masturbating cousin. 6/10 stars. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219952/?ref_=rvi_tt