Review of Lottery Ticket (2010) by Philip C — 21 Dec 2010

Being of white ethnicity and in the middle class as far as wealth goes I'm probably not the most experienced when it comes to being black and living in the projects.

Though after the opening montage of Lottery Ticket I think I have a fairly substantial viewpoint now. Lottery opens with several different people who are of varying financial status who are asked and documented by the local news crew on what they would do if they won the 370,000,000$ jackpot in the lottery.

This is a question that Kevin Carson (played by Bow Wow who I haven't seen since Like Mike back in 2002, a long time ago indeed) is asked when after being a "down on his luck nice guy" all his life finally succeeds. Trouble is the lottery office is closed for the 4th of July weekend and now he has to wait a whole four days to cash it in.

To make the problem worse, the projects are very small in terms of how fast everybody hears about it and now everybody becomes Kevin's "friend" because everybody wants a piece of the pie. Kind of like when you pop out your pack of gum in a room full of people and then everyone's your friend.

Thus ensues a rush of several different people who all try to get it. And this is the film's strength. Lottery Ticket is bursting at the seams with talented actors who all do genuinely well in their respective roles: Bow Wow, Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton, Loretta Devine (who makes it worth it every single scene that she's in), Ice Cube, Keith David, Terry Crews, Mike Epps and Jason Weaver (from Smart Guy! I totally haven't seen that show in forever.

When analyzing the film it's quite apparent that it plays by the book. In the classic story staple there are six different points: 1) Exposition, 2) Initial Incident, 3) Rising Action, 4) Climax, 5) Falling Action (or Denouement) and 6) Conclusion. The film plays through all of these standard points so you know exactly how it'll end. While it may be paint-by-numbers it is genuinely funny and amusing here and there.

There are no surprises to be found here but instead helpful insights and a pretty thoughful and heartfelt message. It may not be one of the best of the year and it may have the expected story structure but what it lacks in that it more than makes up for in great acting, some pretty funny moments and a very good message.