2 out of 5 stars
Short Take: A film industry term that means something that only takes a short time.
A short review of a film with potential discussion points
Summary: As if the teen years weren’t complicated enough, Sam Greenfield (Eva Noblezada) manages to take awkwardness to a new level. The 18-year-old orphan has always lived with a horrible case of bad luck. As she tries to make it out in the world, things go from bad to worse as she fumbles through work and adapting to living outside the orphanage. Until she comes upon a cat named Bob (Simon Pegg) who accidentally leaves her a lucky penny, and everything goes from bad to good. One day, she loses the coin and tries to find the wayward cat to ask for a replacement. This is when Sam discovers that Bob is from the Land of Luck, and as she follows him to the world of leprechauns, her luck wreaks havoc on their fate-based existence.
Review: Skydance Animation (Planet 51) has partnered with AppleTV to step up its footprint in the busy animated market. With John Lasseter (Disney, Pixar) as a producer and a talented voice cast, they hope to capture the family market dominated by Disney, Dreamworks, and Illumination over the years. Director Peggy Holmes made her name in the magical world of Tinkerbell over the years and breaks out by introducing one of the most endearing characters in Sam Greenfield. Along with her humorous sidekick Bob, this adventure has the potential to be a winning franchise. Yet, once they enter the Land of Luck, things become a convoluted mess that tries to emulate films like Monsters, Inc. and Inside Out. Even though there is a cleverness to distinguish between good and bad luck, everything becomes too confusing to be completely understandable. Despite having an original premise, Luck fails to capture the magic needed to appeal to the audience it is trying to win over.
What should parents know about Luck: There should be no surprise that this screenplay relies heavily on the assertion that luck and fate exist. All seems harmless in this world of leprechauns, magical dragons, and unicorns, but it may not be a lesson some parents want their children to learn. Other than this element, Luck has little objectionable material to be concerned about.
Reel Dialogue: Does luck exist?
Luck: having success or failure that happens by chance.
We all have said ‘good luck,’ but this concept doesn’t exist within the Bible. This idea has us living in a world of random fate and leaving God out of the picture. While this statement seems relatively harmless, it is problematic for people from the Christian faith to believe that things happen in this life by chance without God’s hand being involved.
The Bible says:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. - James 1:17
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way. - Psalm 37:23
It is worth considering what The Bible says about the good and bad things of this world. The blessings of this life come from God, and He works things out for good for those who love him. Simply, the words of God do not leave room for random chance, but instead to contemplate how a loving God's providence impacts our lives.
Well, if you don’t want to consider God overseeing this world, then good luck.
