Jackpot!: Movie Review

Cast: Awkwafina, John Cena, Simu Liu, Sean William Scott, Ayden Mayeri
Director: Paul Feig

It is the year 2030 in Los Angeles in Paul Feig's latest, a comedy chase film that somehow manages to run out of steam but never out of charm.

Awkwafina is former child actress Katie Kim, who soared to infamy in a spaghetti commercial when she was younger, but disappeared from the spotlight for personal reasons. When she heads to Los Angeles to try out for a new role, she finds herself in a world she doesn't really know.

Ripped off by her Air BnB host (Mayeri), Katie accidentally scores the biggest ever lottery win. However, that brings a world of trouble because under Los Angeles law, a jackpot winner can be killed by anyone else and their winnings claimed.

However, Katie has an inadvertent protector in the shape of John Cena's Noel. For a cut of her lottery winnings, he will help her survive the first 24 hours after which she's home scot-free and rich.

Jackpot! benefits from some great chemistry between the ever-watchable Awkwafina and the ever-game Cena. 

Mixing its Purge ethos with touches of The Running Man as Katie tries to make it to freedom outside of the city, the film's pace starts off quick and gets quicker. But it hits a stuttering halt when the pair are forced into a panic room and the script demands there's bonding and past exposition dumps.

Until that point, it's a heady mix of quips as Awkafina's character roundly mocks Cena's Noel. Once again, Cena is the butt of the joke and happy to be so, mining low-hanging moments for good solid laughs.

And Bridesmaids' director Feig proves to be a dabhand at keeping it all together and on track. Essentially an odd couple cum buddy movie, the film's chase sequences and action are tautly pulled together - and while not entirely original (in parts, the LA hordes seem akin to a Shaun of the Dead style zombie mob), the film's opening pace zips along.

Less successful is a side-plot involving Simu Liu's character and the shady protection organisation he runs. While deciding on an antagonist would appear to be the MO, it's clear the film's better when it's Katie and Noel vs the masses. Early scenes in a dojo and yoga class ripple with clever ideas and out-and-out beat downs. It's less eventful once the other organisation shows up.

But Jackpot! does truly hit the jackpot when it allows its leads to shine - both prove to be more than capable of holding their own, yet Awkwafina emerges as the MVP from this. 

While nowhere near as good as the excellent trailer would have you believe, Jackpot is a respectably zippy 100 minute comedy caper that offers some solid laughs and enjoyment while it's on. It doesn't quite win the lottery of laughs, but for a night in, it more than capably does the job.