Lucky Numbers (2000)

22% of critics liked it
(96 reviews)
22% of users liked it
(9,519 ratings)

While lots of people dream of winning the lottery, one man hatches a more ambitious plan than just buying a ticket and hoping for the best in this satiric comedy. Russ Richards (John Travolta), a weatherman on a local TV station in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, sells snowmobiles on the side, but both… More While lots of people dream of winning the lottery, one man hatches a more ambitious plan than just buying a ticket and hoping for the best in this satiric comedy. Russ Richards (John Travolta), a weatherman on a local TV station in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, sells snowmobiles on the side, but both careers are in a rut thanks to an unusually warm winter. Russ's girlfriend Crystal (Lisa Kudrow) appears on the State Lottery's weekly televised drawing, pulling the numbered balls out of the rotating bin. With the help of a few of his less scrupulous friends - among them sleazy strip joint proprietor Gig (Tim Roth), small time hood Dale The Thug (Michael Rappaport), and Crystal's sleazy cousin Walter (Michael Moore) - Russ figures out a way to rig the drawing and have Crystal pull numbers that they happen to own. However, Russ discovers that making the scheme work and keeping everyone quiet about it is more trouble than it's worth. The supporting cast includes Chris Kattan, Ed O'Neill, and Bill Pullman; Nora Ephron, who previously worked with Travolta on the comedy hit Michael, directed. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Nora Ephron
Written By: Adam Resnick
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 27, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Mar 20, 2001
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy, Variety
A visually unattractive picture of meager verve and dynamism.
(CNN.com) Paul Clinton, CNN.com
Travolta and Kudrow make a winning combination, and the result is mindless, instantly forgettable comic fluff that will engage you, given half a chance.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Tells too much story at not enough energy. It should have been cut back and cranked up.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Never finds the comic tone it's after.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It pretty much squanders the talents of everybody involved.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
A dark comedy in the muckraking mode that starts out murderously well but then begins to unravel -- just like Russ' misbegotten schemes.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Not a great movie, and definitely not for kids.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
With this dud of a dark comedy, it's clear that director Nora Ephron's unluckiest number is that of John Travolta.
John Venable, Supercala.com
The ping-pong ball trick was funny...but that was all.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
Lucky Numbers" builds from a shaky first act and actually gets funnier as the tone gets darker.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
a black comedy that would have been much funnier and edgier if it hadn't been softened up to accomodate a star of Travolta's magnitude.
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine
About as lucky as a broken mirror.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
The colorful cast saves Travolta's hide this time around.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Sunil J

Such a silly movie but really funny.
Christopher B

A movie that's so forgettable you may need to rewind it to remember what's going on. Still, it's as harmless as Goldilock's porridge.
Ashton R

Okay, I went into this movie thinking it was going to be utter crap, but since I love Roth, I decided to see it anyway. And I must say I was quite surprised. It had a nice flow to it, and a great cast that portrayed nicely eccentric characters, especially John Travolta. I'm so… More
Okay, I went into this movie thinking it was going to be utter crap, but since I love Roth, I decided to see it anyway. And I must say I was quite surprised. It had a nice flow to it, and a great cast that portrayed nicely eccentric characters, especially John Travolta. I'm so used to seeing him be a hardened criminal that when he's floundering around and squeeling in this I just couldn't help but laugh out loud. Lisa Kudrow was also great and played a real crazy bitch, which was nice considering the usual ditzes she plays. Roth was great as usual, and was strangely charming despite his character's immoral personality. Oh, and Pullman was great too; he was actually probably the funniest as a the laziest police officer you'll ever see. So all in all it had a few laughs and some witty parts, but it still felt like it was trying a bit too hard. I'd wait to see it on TV or rent it if you're really interested, but I'd only suggest it to Travolta or Roth fans.