Lucky You (Warner Bros.) is a mellow love story set in Las Vegas about an ace poker player named Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) who puts his randy ways behind him when he meets aspiring singer Billie Offer (Drew Barrymore).
As their relationship blossoms, Billie proves herself an admirably decent young woman who also — when she gleans his animosity towards his poker-champ father, L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall) — gently pushes him toward a reconciliation.
Director and co-writer Curtis Hanson gets appealing performances from his cast. Bana is especially fine, with Barrymore warmly sympathetic as usual and her character shows great integrity throughout. Duvall plays his enigmatic character with his customary panache, eventually revealing the heart behind the poker face.
The film's emphasis is largely on the game, possibly not a bad thing for the legions of television poker fans, less so for everyone else. (Familiarity with poker is a distinct plus, though novice viewers will get the general idea.)
The cards almost seem to get more screen time than the stars, but surprisingly there's less nail-biting suspense than you would expect, especially when the stakes are so high. Some interest is generated by the conflicting aspects of the warmth and openness necessary for fulfilling relationships versus the coldhearted calculation needed for the game itself.
Hanson lets many scenes play without any background-music scoring at all, save for some songs including a new one by Bob Dylan, and lets the action play out realistically, though the colorful Vegas locales (and Los Angeles replicas) have the requisite gloss. Several poker professionals play cameo roles, adding to the film's authentic feel.
There are hardly any sex, violence or language concerns, and the values espoused — honesty, fidelity, forgiveness, filial devotion and good sportsmanship — are certainly commendable (the gambling aspect notwithstanding!). It's just a pity the script by Hanson and co-writer Eric Roth (based on the latter's story) isn't more involving, even in the film's world tournament climax. Acceptable for older teens.
The film contains a couple of instances of crude language, an implied premarital encounter, brief sexual references and innuendo, and brief mild violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
