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Lucky You

4/10

Stars: Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Robert Duvall, Debra Messing, Charles Martin Smith

Director: Curtis Hanson

You'd bet against a film about poker being dull. But you'd lose your shirt on this minor ordeal that, for excitement, makes The Cincinnati Kid look like The Magnificent Seven.

Poor Barrymore has to cope with one of the world's most boring leading actors in Bana, as his character tries to escape the shadow of his poker-champ father (Duvall) and win the world series.

He gets beaten up when he blows his $10,000 entrance 'stash' on a game with dad, but we hardly care, since it's obvious the guy can easily win the money back at the card table.

There's a strange, scene-stealing, but totally unnecessary guest appearance from Robert Downey Jr, who vanishes from the film almost as soon as he's in it, and way too much action at the poker table for comfort. 24 regulars will recognise Jean Smart (ex-president Charles Logan's wife in that series) as one of the finalists in the big game.

By and large, though, this isn't very interesting even if you like playing cards.

David Quinlan

USA 2007. UK Distributor: Warner Brothers. Technicolor.
123 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: PG.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 18 Jun 2007