Logan Lucky
(Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)
Desperate and out of work, two brothers plan a big heist at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. (From the director of the Oceans 11 franchise.)
Rated PG-13, for language and some crude comments
Genre: Action Comedy
Viewer Appeal: Teens and Adults.
Maybe I was slow, but it seemed to me that Logan Lucky slipped into and out of theatres so fast that somebody just didn’t want me (or you) to see it. That seems odd for a movie with this kind of Hollywood cred. After all, this was the film that tempted legendary director Steven Soderbergh out of retirement, which boasted an A-list actors and a summertime release. Still, Logan Lucky didn’t break even financially and sped into Blu-ray release barely three months after its theatrical debut.
What gives? You’ve got an original heist plot, an Academy Award-winning director, and a high-octane cast that includes Channing Tatum, Daniel Craig, and even Hilary Swank. So why was this film an afterthought in Hollywood? Hard to tell for sure, but the good news is that Logan Lucky proves to be an under-the-radar gem on Blu-ray, filled with just the right amount of comedy, action, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Here’s the “official” description of this one:
“Hoping to reverse a ‘curse’ that’s hung over his family for generations, Jimmy Logan (Tatum) hatches a plan to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR'S biggest race of the year. He convinces his bartender brother Clyde (Driver) and hairdresser sister Mellie (Keough) to help him pull everything off--but first they have to break the bomb-maker Joe Bang (Craig) out of jail in broad daylight. Academy Award® winner Hilary Swank plays a no-nonsense FBI agent determined to bring the Logans to justice and keep them from racing away with the loot in this high speed caper from director Steven Soderbergh.”
The film lives up to the description, a “high speed caper” that will be a great date night for you and your spouse, or even a fun movie night for you and your action-comedy-loving teens. Admittedly, Adam Driver plays Clyde Logan as something of a one-note character, and Daniel Craig chews up scenery at times, but Channing Tatum is a fine choice for the center of the movie. What’s more, Soderbergh’s ladies are all worth the price of admission.
Katie Holmes is a treat to watch as Jimmy’s ex-wife Bobbie Jo, and Hilary Swank is always irresistible on screen. Best of all, though, is the adorable Farrah Mackenzie stealing the show as the precocious, preschool beauty pageant aspirant.
Peopled with unique characters, powered by an Oceans 11-style heist adventure, and expertly directed by the Soderbergh touch, Logan Lucky is a fun way to spend one hour and 58 minutes over the coming weekend.
Let's Talk About It
Use these questions to spark discussion among family members who are interested in this movie:
• What’s your reaction after watching Logan Lucky? Explain.
• Who do the characters in this film remind you of? Which is most like you?
• The Logan brothers saw grand theft as the only solution to their problems. What kind of solutions do you pursue when you face hard times? Explain your philosophy.
--MN
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