Review of Just My Luck (2006) by Jeff B — 16 Jul 2010

Luck comes in many forms...or so director Donald Petrie (Miss Congeniality) would've hoped before cameras rolled on this luckless flick. It gambles a decent premise on a so-so script and the comic talents of Lindsay Lohan. Suffice to say, Lohan has had remarkable success in conjuring hits out of projects harboring only a hint of (Mean Girls) or no (Herbie: Fully Loaded) potential, but much of her CV's windfall comes courtesy of her directors and the material. This lucky streak goes broke with Just My Luck, a romantic comedy with a winningly original concept that, in all the wrong hands, gets old fast. This is not to say that it does not get old, only that it takes a running time of 108 minutes to get there, marred by countless, obtrusive musical numbers.

Through lots of luck and little pluck in this PG-13-rated rom-com, Ashley (Lohan) has the world at her feet, a successful career and social life being the cornerstones. Jake (Pine), on the other hand, can barely stay on his feet, bungling his makeshift gig as manager to the unsigned band McFly nearly beyond repair. When a chance encounter engages them in a passionate kiss, their respective lucks switch, bringing Ashley's world down and Jake's up.

Though it goes against this reviewer's grain to embrace such fare, points must be given -albeit grudgingly - for originality. Just My Luck's downfall, however, occurs as it undergoes an identity crisis. The director never decides whether he is making a romantic comedy or a promotional film for wannabe next-big-band McFly. This force-feeding of disposable pop gets old fast, causing the film's luck to run out.

Bottom line: Don't go down gambling.