Review of Lottery Ticket (2010) by Edwin R — 24 Dec 2010

"Lottery Ticket" is not a major awards contender. It's not remotely stimulating, nor is it a comedic classic. This movie is best explained as a simple comedy that deals with the ever-wondered question that concerns the winning of the lottery.

For most of the movie, Bow Wow (he's dropped the Lil') and Brandon T. Jackson (who will always be known as Alpa Chino in my book) are put into funny situations involving all of those greedy onlookers who desire Bow Wow's winning ticket.

These crazy shenanigans are nothing new to the genre, nor are they worth anything but a few chuckles. What lifts "Lottery Ticket" above the usual African-American comedy is the surprisingly poignant message it carries.

The film's simple message of giving back to the community is one that always strikes home. It stresses that no matter where you are, the importance of friends is one of life's greatest blessings, and greed always is overshadowed by doing the right thing.

If only the entire film had focused on this. Instead, we are treated to this important message scattered about like crumbs on a bread trail. The film's leads are effective in doing their jobs, as are the supporting roles (I got a hoot out of Charley Murphy.

He's got a subtle humor tone to him that largely goes unnoticed). Humor wise, the film ranges in the painfully unfunny (Preacher wants to upgrade church, and in turn house and wife with money! Dude gets major injury down below!), to the always good for a chuckle (the antics of Bow Wow's stoop companions), to the it's been done before, but still good for a laugh (Loretta Devine's old school religions granny, who casts Holy water onto Bow Wow for protection).

If this film had been watched over by a better steward (Tyler Perry, for example), I feel this could have been a much more meaningful film. Ice Cube wasn't just spouting off mumbo-jumbo when his recluse Mr.

Washington warns young Bow Wow of the dangers of greed. The messages in this film are there, and are effective and meaningful, but the constant, typical high-jinks of the film's leads almost bog the film down.

Overall, "Lottery Ticket" is by no means a failure, but almost let's its important message be brought down to the same level as its occasional low-brow humor.