It looks like "Lucky Numbers" will need more than luck to help it through what has been called a "really dim-witted plot," but with a remarkably undimwitted cast. Let's see.
Russ Richards (John Travolta) is a popular Los Angeles weatherman, ( a smog monitor presumably), who, down on his luck, persuades the lovely Lotto Lady Crystal Leroy (Lisa Kudrow), to rig some numbers in his behalf.
Now, this doesn't sound like the worst plot Glittertown has come up with. But, alas, it is handled with neither sufficient grace nor humor, according to the critical community. Director and novelist Nora Ephron is a very clever lady, but some say she lost her touch with this one.
Richards hails from Harrisburg, Penn, where he even has his own table at Denny's, but that doesn't really cut it in LA. However, it begins to look like his foolish scheme just might work when one of his patsies equally foolishly, turns up dead. Now, that really muddies the waters, as the patsy held the winning ticket.
Fine pickle we're in now, Ollie. However, stay tuned, eat your popcorn, watch Kudrow and Travolta, and chill, man.
It is directed by Nora Ephron and John Lindley and is rated R for language, sexuality, drugs and brief violence.
It starts Thursday at Cinema One.
