“The Luckiest Man in America” follows an ice-cream truck driver who discovers a secret way to win as a contestant on the game show “Press Your Luck.”

This is a nostalgic movie. Not only because of its old-fashioned cuts and transitions, but also because something like this could actually happen. This absurd story reminded me of a much simpler past.

A Charming Setup

“Press Your Luck” is one of my favorite game shows, and it certainly has a charm that others do not. The classic Whammy and the colorful set design translate well into the film.

Paul Walter Hauser plays Michael Larson. Hauser is able to portray the awkward, mysterious character well. His quirkiness and bizarreness bring life to a film that may lack it in other areas.

Shifting Focus

After “The Luckiest Man in America” reaches its midway point, it begins to shift the focus away from Michael and toward the other characters. This intermixing doesn’t always work, as the pacing begins to drag. Despite this, the flick is able to experiment with a variety of different ideas to further flesh Michael out as it comes to a close.

Segments of “The Luckiest Man in America” fly by, but others really drag. The film is only an hour and a half long, but 15–20 minutes probably could’ve been cut to achieve the same outcome.

Game Show Fans Rejoice

“The Luckiest Man in America” is a look to the past in a true yet dramatized story. Seeing a behind-the-scenes look at a famous game show is entertaining. Combining that with an exploration of Michael makes this quite an enjoyable watch. It’s not overly memorable, but if you’re a fan of “Press Your Luck” or game shows in general, you’ll most likely have fun.

Rating: 3 out of 5