After doing some quick math, I think I saw double the number of films this summer vs last year’s garbage dump of cinematic “attempts.” Logan Lucky is going to wrap up this crop of summer’s films and then it’s time to get ready for the usual onslaught of awful films from September-Thanksgiving. However, I can see 2 early exceptions to this rule: Stephen King’s IT (that clown looks scarier than the Jets chances of making the playoffs) as well as the sequel for the Kingsmen. If you haven’t seen the first Kingsmen film, do so. It’s insanely well done and director Matthew Vaughn RARELY misses (see Wanted with Angelina Jolie as said exception.) Anyway, on to Lucky Logan.
I must have missed the memo but apparently, Steven Soderbergh went into retirement for a little while but now he’s re-emerged with the hillbilly version of Ocean’s 11, Logan Lucky. Soderbergh recasts one of his usual suspects, Channing Tatum, to play Jimmy Logan, a West Virginia good ol boy who just lost his job and comes up with a scheme to rob the Charlotte motor speedway. Joining him is his one handed, bartender brother, Clyde, (Adam Driver who needs to wear his Kylo Ren mask wherever he goes, he’s one ugly dude) and his hairdresser sister Mellie (Riley Kelough). Katie Holmes plays Jimmy’s ex wife with whom he’s constantly battling over their beauty pageant daughter. I must say, she hasn’t aged well. Watch an underrated film called, Go, from 1999 and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Although my vote for scene stealer goes to Daniel Craig who plays Joe Bang, a demolition expert that’s current locked up in the hoosegow. He’s hilarious and you can see him having fun with this character and accent.
This film has a slight “Dukes of Hazard” feel to it with the Yee-hah, state fair, NASCAR lovin’ country folk. The only thing missing was a Trump reference but thankfully, Soderbergh doesn’t go down Stereotype Boulevard with that. And just like Ocean’s 11, there’s a crew involved. But the differences start here because I felt myself more attached to the Ocean’s crew than the Logan group. It’s not that the characters do anything to inspire the audience hatred, I just didn’t smile as much or wanted to see or hear more of their characters. If you’ve seen any of the Ocean’s films, Soderbergh uses his usual visual and musical clues for the audience to make sure that they pay attention to said clues. He also put it best in an interview: this is a crew using “rubber band technology” as opposed to Clooney’s group having state of the art gadgets. That does fit this group more soundly as it would be weird with a Boss Hog type using lasers to cut through glass.
The critics are loving the bejesus out of this film but I wasn’t as on board with their praise. I felt the payoff in the end didn’t pack as powerful as a punch as it could have. Hillary Swank comes in late as an FBI investigator and I felt she really didn’t add anything to the film. Was this film fine? Yes. Is it as good as the reviews are? No. Should you pay $15 bucks for it? Up to you but I’ll bet you’ll walk out saying, “Not bad, not great either.”
I give it a 6/10
Kevin Gootee 