JACKPOT! (2024) Review

Review

Over a career spanning nearly three-decades writer, director and sometimes actor Paul Feig has proven time and time again his ability to make audiences laugh. Whether it be straight up comedy like 2011’s Bridesmaids or teen drama in the show Freaks and Geeks, Feig had a knack for comedy that some could only dream of.

With latest film Jackpot! Feig returns to a high concept comedy with a story set in 2030 California. The state’s “Grand Lottery” see’s the winner need to survive the day following the draw. Should they fall fowl of murder before sundown then the killer will take ownership of the jackpot without recrimination. After accidentally coming in to possession of a winning ticket, Katie (Awkwafina) must try to survive or escape the city and it’s up to new companion Noel (John Cena) to help her achieve that goal.

Jackpot! is a remarkable success on all fronts thanks to incredible chemistry between its leads. Feig and writer Rob Yescombe capitalise on Awkwafina’s comedic talents to bring the viewer in to this future world. After an opening gag featuring American Pie actor Sean William-Scott, it’s over to Akwafina as we follow Katie as a fish-out-of-water in Los Angeles. Her experience of the Grand Lottery echoes the journey of the audience acclimating to this world. Then, just as Katie needs backup to guarantee her survival, the film pivots to become a two-hander with Cena bringing his trademark humour and hulking-muscle to proceedings.

It’s clear there’s a confidence and a camaraderie between writer, director and cast which allows for just the right amount of interpretation and improvisation. Comedy is difficult beast to capture. Not only does every generation have their own idea of what’s funny. But with so much real-life comedy content available online finding what works on the big screen is nigh on impossible. Through mega-hits like Spy and Bridesmaids Feig has proven credibility for capturing a natural, nuanced humour which audiences fundamentally connect with. Jackpot! is another prime example of that effortless comedy which can range from a slight chuckle all the way through to falling on the floor, grasping for air guffawing. Yescombe clearly hasn’t overloaded his script with pre-conceived jokes. Instead the film feels like its comedy is born naturally from its characters and their situation.

In Jackpot! that situation is close enough to reality to feel plausible. But also offers the filmmakers and the cast the chance to have fun by heightening the reality in which it sits. Whether that’s through more advanced technology – big shout out to the prosthetic makeup machine – or the environment of 2030 LA. The film’s one major rule in the Grand Lottery, no guns allowed, also works well in helping set up the absurdity of its premise. If you have to kill someone up close what does that look like? But when the entire city is trying to get close enough to kill you, what does that do to the mob? Friends become enemies, lottery syndicates become murder squads and the Jackpot! production team suddenly has a lot to work with.

It’s not purely observational comedy which is at the heart of the film. Awkwafina’s Katie, a sort of aspiring actress, has studied at stage fight school. Her training means Akwafina has plenty of opportunity for physical comedy. Her relatively short stature next to Cena doubling down for an even more hilarious brand of physical comedy which takes the actress outside of her usual comfort zone. Adding to her razor sharp tongue the image of her being flung around the screen by the hulking Cena and I promise you’ll want to see so much of these two on screen together. Likewise there’s plenty to be mined from seeing Cena dial back his usual confidence to make Noel somewhat of a sympathetic hero. There’s a softer side to his character which also challenges what we know of Cena’s ability on screen. Neither is reaching particularly far but when the material is this well written they don’t need to.

Rounding the trio of A-list stars is Simu Liu. I’ve struggled with some of his more villainous roles of late. But whilst Jackpot!’s script does offer the chance for moustache twirling, it also allows him to use his fighting skills. As an all round character Louis Lewis plays to Liu’s strengths. For Shang-Chi fans it’s also fun to see a different dynamic between Liu and Awkwafina.

Meanwhile Ayden Mayeri as roommate and original lottery ticket holder Shadi might be a fresh face but that doesn’t stop her from running with the best of them. Shadi is a comedic delight and Mayeri revels in both her stupidity and her accidental genius. Shadi is a character constructed for the audience to place in the de-facto villain role and Mayeri fills it perfectly.

It’s no surprise that Feig is a fan of Jackie Chan movies. It’s a fandom which informed major sequences like the legendary kitchen fight scene in Spy. Here Feig is able to run wild with that fandom with a group of actors unafraid to undertake practical stunts. The reality of Jackpot!’s setting informs some of the grounded nature of its fight choreography. But a credible urge to move away from green screen pixel fests is the backbone by which this adeptly capable stunt team works. From car chases to intricate and lengthy hand-to-hand combat, Jackpot! offers up one of the most hilarious and yet intense action movies of the year. The violence may not equal that of Deadpool & Wolverine but the intent behind certainly succeeds in creating something as exhilarating.

Verdict

Jackpot! is the surprise hit of the summer. Paul Feig and writer Rob Yescombe have created an action comedy which truly succeeds in pleasing both sides of the audience. The action, intense. The comedy, side-splitting. With the dynamite pairing of Awkwafina and John Cena in front of the camera

⭐⭐⭐⭐