Story
Huckleberry Cheever (Eric Bana) is a professional gambler who loses as often as he wins. His life is dominated by his famous father, LC Cheever (Robert Duvall), who has won the National Poker Tournament twice. Huck has never forgiven LC for betraying and alienating Huck’s mother by pawning her wedding ring. Huck is determined to enter the National Tournament. Bad luck dogs him, however, and he seems unable to raise the entry fee.
Huck meets young and refreshing Billie (Drew Barrymore). She manages to show him that there is more to life than winning and losing. Huck manages to get to the National Tournament and face his father in the event. He also succeeds at something more important than winning the tournament.
Themes
Gambling
Violence
There is some violence in a scene where some ‘heavies’ come to Huck’s home to collect $10 000 he owes from a gambling debt. When he can’t pay, they throw him into an empty swimming pool, leaving his face badly bruised.
Sexual references
None
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
This movie shows some drinking and smoking in casinos.
Nudity and sexual activity
Huck and Billie kiss passionately and end up in bed together (nothing graphic).
Product placement
None
Coarse language
This movie contains some mild to medium-level coarse language.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Lucky You is a romantic drama that draws heavily on the game of poker, which will probably limit its appeal. It is well acted, however, and shows some refreshing honesty. The main messages from this movie are that there is more to life than winning and losing, and that giving and receiving shouldn’t be so complex.
You might like to discuss the values in this movie:
- honesty
- the relative importance of winning
- love and friendship
- forgiveness.
You could also discuss with your children the attitudes to gambling and behaviours of some of the characters, and real-life consequences, such as the addictive nature of gambling and the devastating effects it can have on people.