Luck – A Passable Animated Feature (Early Review)

With so many animated films out there, it’s sometimes hard to stand out. Bringing a lot of the same elements to the table for the most part, they can still somewhat find success because the only audience that really matters at the end of the day are the younger ones. When it comes to Luck, the first animated feature to be released on Apple TV+, the same is likely to be the case. A film that brings absolutely nothing new to the table and is slightly too long, clocking in at 105 minutes, it’s silly yet derivative story full of convoluted exposition is sure to be a point of contention for some viewers. In spite of its issues, it ultimately prevails on an overabundance of color and cutesiness that will keep the attention of those younger audiences. While it may not be particularly memorable, it is a decent watch, providing enough of a distraction and nothing more. That being said, one can’t help but think of the countless other films that have all done what this film has done but better.

Luck follows a woman named Sam Greenfield (Noblezada) who just happened to be the unluckiest person in the world. Looking to turn her luck around, she encountered a talking cat named Bob (Pegg) before following him into the magical Land of Luck where she learned the truth about good and bad luck and how they work together to shape one’s life. That lesson is pretty self-explanatory as Sam is put through the ringer as she learns what luck truly means and whether or not it really matters. That is pretty much it but the film goes about it in a long-winded way. The Land of Luck is an intricate world full of magical creatures much different than the human world for which the film sets up with a surprising amount of convoluted exposition that only makes things more difficult itself than it had to. However, it will probably just go over the heads of viewers if not be forgotten. Putting so much stock into this land, its subpar foundation makes for a dull watch regardless of how fantastical it may be as Sam and Bob go on a roller coaster journey through the Land of Luck.

Further holding Luck back is a mediocre script. The film’s premise is admittedly interesting though also a little dark but it squanders it almost immediately by taking it on a derivative path that is nowhere near as interesting, funny, or endearing. While the characters are thin and the story and emotional beats have been done countless times before, it does just enough to be somewhat compelling to watch in spite of dragging in the middle. Carrying the film through its ups and downs was the relationship between Sam and Bob who were fun to watch together. Although the material wasn’t necessarily there, their chemistry definitely was. It’s just a shame that both characters were essentially handcuffed by the script. Meanwhile, the animation may not be top tier but as the first feature from Skydance Animation, it nevertheless holds up well alongside the more well-known studios. Though the color and detail are there as the film offers a nice variety of character who are well done, nothing truly stands out.

At the end of the day, the best part of Luck is its performances who make it all work. They were good across the board with Noblezada and Pegg leading the way as Sam and Bob but they are surrounded by an impressive cast in their own right, featuring Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Flula Borg, and Lil Rel Howery just to name a few.

Luck may be nowhere near the worst choice but there are a lot of better ones out there.

still courtesy of Apple

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.