Awkwafina and John Cena deserve better

Jackpot!Directed by Paul Feig and written by Rob Yescombe, with its unique premise and an ensemble cast including Awkwafina, John Cena and Simu Liu, it promised a rollercoaster ride of laughs and thrills. But what could have been a clever, genre-bending action comedy turned out to be a messy and often confusing film that fails on several fronts.

The film’s plot revolves around Katie (Awkwafina), a struggling actress in California in 2030 who wins the lottery. The twist? A bizarre law allows anyone with a losing lottery ticket to legally murder her before sunset to claim her winnings. Enter Noel (John Cena), an amateur lottery protection agent who offers to keep her alive until sunset in exchange for a share of her winnings. Alongside her are Louis Lewis (Simu Liu), whose character is so underdeveloped that his motives remain a mystery throughout the film, and Shadi (Ayden Mayeri), who serves more as comic relief than a full-fledged character.

First of all, the film’s concept is undeniably intriguing. The idea of ​​a high-stakes survival scenario with a ticking clock is made for suspense and dark humor. Unfortunately, the execution of this premise is lackluster. Feig’s direction seems torn between creating an intense action film and a hilarious comedy, resulting in a tonal mishmash that fails to convince on either front.

Awkwafina, usually a reliable source of humor and charisma, seems miscast in the role of Katie. Her performance vacillates oddly between genuine angst and over-the-top slapstick, making it hard to empathize with her character’s plight. While Awkwafina’s comedic talent is evident in other roles, here she seems limited by a script that doesn’t know whether to take itself seriously or not.

John Cena as Noel, the bumbling but well-meaning lottery protection agent, provides some of the film’s few highlights. Cena’s natural comedic timing and physicality fit the action-comedy genre well. Yet even his performance is marred by poorly written dialogue and inconsistent character development. One moment he’s a competent protector, the next he’s making inexplicable decisions that defy logic. Naturally, this leaves audiences more confused than amused.

Simu Liu’s character Louis Lewis is perhaps the most glaring example of wasted potential in Jackpot!. Liu, fresh off of success with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is reduced to a character whose backstory and motivations are never fully explored. Is he a friend, an enemy, or something in between? The film never quite makes up its mind, leaving Liu with little to work with and audiences feeling shortchanged.

Ayden Mayeri brings some levity to the film as Shadi, but her role is so minor and peripheral that she barely stands out in all the chaos. Her character seems to exist solely for comic relief, which might have been more effective if the rest of the film wasn’t already struggling under the weight of its own comedic ambitions.

The action sequences, an integral part of every action comedy, are another area in which Jackpot! disappointed. Instead of being exciting or innovative, they are banal and unimaginatively choreographed. The chases lack urgency and the fight scenes lack creativity. Additionally, the special effects are surprisingly subpar for a film set in the near future.

Furthermore, the film’s attempt to combine social commentary with its abstruse premise falls short. A society obsessed with wealth and willing to murder for financial gain is heavily criticized for its lack of subtlety. Rather than being thought-provoking, it feels like a clumsy afterthought that exists only to justify the film’s high-sounding plot.