The Luckiest Man in America 2025 Movie Review
Most television viewers in the UK have heard of the Charles Ingram scandal. It is alleged that he and his wife, Diana, conspired to cheat on the quiz show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? through a series of well-timed coughs. But long before that ever happened, American quiz show, Press Your Luck, had a cheating disasters of its own – one that cost the show a record $100k payout.
That’s the basis of Samir Oliveros’ The Luckiest Man in America, which sees Paul Walter Hauser play Michael Larson, ostensibly an awkward and eccentric quiz show participant. But Larson’s unprecedented winning streak has TV executives Bill (David Strathairn) and Chuck (Shamier Anderson) worried for their jobs when they realise not all is as it seems. Charismatic quiz show host, Peter Tomarken (Walton Goggins) is left to navigate Larson’s behaviour via ear piece. Could he really be cheating on a game show that is centred around a random prize board?
The film is one of these ensemble pieces that really works. Everybody is pulling their weight and adding to the sense of conspiracy that permeates Michael’s TV appearance. At a perfectly timed 90 minutes, Maggie Briggs and Samir Oliveros’ script keeps things tight and interesting. It’s always a treat to see how television is actually made, with lots of sweeping shots of indistinct corridors that suddenly lead to flashy sets. There sense of excitement and tension in the live studio is contrasted with the panic and uncertainty in the control room. It’s a neat little touch to see both sides of the occasion. Oliveros also delivers the cosy glow of nostalgia. Even if you weren’t around in the 80s, you’re probably familiar with fuzzy neon graphics, oversized glasses and terrible sartorial choices. It’s all here, in all its technicolour glory.
The performances, too, are excellent. Walton Goggins is every bit the coiffeured, schmoozy 80s TV host but we also get a sense of how TV recordings can go wrong through his panicked chats with his ear piece. In a strange way, it’s a performance not entirely dissimilar to David Dastmalchian’s talk show host in Late Night with the Devil. It really captures the essence of what presenting such a popular show looks and sounds like. You get the feeling that David Straithairn’s Bill would sell his mother if it meant good television, as he kisses ass with higher ranking executive and willingly throws lower level colleagues under the bus. Shamier Anderson, as Chuck, does a great job of playing detective; piecing together Michael’s life to understand who this seemingly harmless ice cream truck driver really is.
Paul Walter Hauser delivers a flawless performance as Michael – when you see the archival TV footage at the end of the film, you’ll realise how much he has nailed his voice and mannerisms. He’s nervous, says the wrong thing, dresses strangely and appears to be living in his truck. Vulnerable, flawed characters like this are endlessly fascinating and, in this case, doubly so as it all actually happened. It’s an interesting one because you inevitably feel sorry for a man whose life seems to be falling apart around him but, equally, this isn’t his first time indulging in a scam. (And, quite frankly, Oliveros presents an entirely sanitised version of the real Larson.)
It’s an interesting film because it talks a lot about the American Dream and how Larson could represent that – the humble, working man winning big – but it fails to acknowledge that, like the show itself, the Dream is more than a little bit rigged. More than that, there’s perhaps no character for you to “root for”, which is still regarded as a bit of a bold choice.
The Luckiest Man in America is scheduled to have a theatrical release this year and, for the performances alone, it’s definitely worth seeking out. It’s a little slice of American nostalgia, laced with something entirely more sinister.
