Luck
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Colorful, charming animated tale has positive messages.
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Luck
Community Reviews
Based on 37 parent reviews
Great to have another rated G movie for my daughter to enjoy
Fully Watchable!
What's the Story?
The star of LUCK, Sam Greenfield (voiced by Eva Noblezada), has always had bad luck. She is about to age out of the latest in a long string of foster homes, none of which ever found her a "forever family." This means that she has to say goodbye to bunkmate Hazel (Adelynn Spoon), a little girl also waiting to be adopted, and move into an apartment on her own. One day Sam finds a lucky penny left behind by a black cat. She plans to give Hazel the penny for luck in finding a family, but, bad luck being what it is, she accidentally flushes the penny down the toilet. When she again spots the black cat -- who can speak and is named Bob (Simon Pegg) -- she chases him and unwittingly follows him through a portal that leads to the Land of Luck. There, Sam's real adventure begins, as she enlists Bob's help in getting a lucky penny for Hazel, poses as a Latvian Leprechaun, and has to elude characters like the Captain (Whoopi Goldberg) and the Dragon (Jane Fonda).
Is It Any Good?
This charming animated film manages to maintain a sweet innocence without compromising its desire to layer in ideas and characters that can be appreciated by more mature audiences. Luck's characters, animated with subtlety, are seemingly tailor-made for the high-profile cast. Bob's calm, cool, standoffish demeanor is captured in his cat poses and almond eyes, and Pegg's accent hilariously changes to fit the storyline. Goldberg infuses her wise-cracking Captain with a soft heart, and Fonda oozes seductive power as the confident dragon lady who recognizes that a lot of creatures are intimidated by "ladies of stature" and who just knows that she would "excel" at running the universe.
The Land of Luck is a magical place imbued with soft colors and made to look like the inside of a watch, constantly in motion and with Jetsons-style platforms transporting characters. There's magic in other scenes as well, particularly a dialogue-free sequence where Sam chases Bob through town. The cat is as suave as Fred Astaire as he glides nonchalantly over the tops of opened umbrellas. The entire film is set to an orchestral score that also has classical Hollywood nuances.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the idea that bad luck can bring good things, or at least teach us resilience, as it does for Sam in Luck. Has this been your experience? If so, what happened?
The Captain and the Dragon are both female characters in charge of the Land of Luck. Why is it unusual to see female leaders in animated films? What other examples can you think of?
How do Sam and Bob demonstrate empathy? Do other characters show this trait as well? Why is this an important character strength?
How does Sam show perseverance? At what points might she have given up on her plan to help Hazel? Would it have been understandable if she had given up?
Do you believe in luck? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 5, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: August 5, 2022
- Cast: Eva Noblezada , Simon Pegg , Jane Fonda
- Director: Peggy Holmes
- Inclusion Information: Latino actors, Female actors
- Studio: Apple TV+
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Empathy , Gratitude , Perseverance
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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