“The Luckiest Man in America” Review (TIFF 2024)

Photo credit: IMDb

Written by: Gracie Lowes

The third film I was able to see at TIFF 2024 was Samir Oliveros’ “The Luckiest Man in America.”

This shocking true story follows Michael (Paul Walter Hauser), an unemployed ice cream truck driver from Lebanon, Ohio, who only made it into auditions for Press Your Luck by taking someone else’s appointment.

After barely making it onto the show, Michael stumbles through the first few minutes. But once host Peter Tomarken (Walton Goggins) begins the second “spin” round, where contestants try to land on winning tiles by stopping a flashing electronic game board, Michael suddenly can’t lose.

He quickly breaks the show’s record, and before long, he’s draining its prize account. Everyone begins to wonder: Is Michael cheating, or does he understand something about Press Your Luck that no one else has ever seen?

Going into this film, I was hesitant, especially since it was the world premiere and very little was known or released about it. But I can confidently say I’m thrilled to have seen it.

This thriller-drama had me on the edge of my seat, eager to see what happened next, while also making me laugh out loud at certain moments.

The twists and turns Oliveros crafted while staying true to real events made this a film anyone could enjoy, even those unfamiliar with the game show.

Beyond the fantastic script and well-thought-out shots, the cast gave outstanding performances that fully immersed viewers in the story.

Alongside Hauser and Goggins, the film also stars David Strathairn, Maisie Williams, Shamier Anderson, Patti Harrison, Brian Geraghty, and more.

Overall, I give “The Luckiest Man in America” four out of five stars.

If you enjoyed “Dumb Money (2023)” or “Quiz Show (1994)”, this film is definitely for you.