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Kevin (Bow Wow) and his grandma (Loretta Devine) squeal when they win $370 million in the comedy “Lottery Ticket.” |
Winning the lottery is one surefire way of getting ahead in the world without displaying a lick of talent, brains or hard work. That’s why it’s a favorite fantasy of so many – and why it’s hard for me to sympathize too much with actor/rapper Bow Wow as Kevin Carson, protagonist of the new comedy “Lottery Ticket.”
Kevin is a likable guy from the Atlanta projects who suddenly wins $370 million in the Mondo Millions sweepstakes, using lucky numbers he got off a fortune cookie.
One hitch: It’s Saturday of a Fourth of July weekend that will stretch through Monday, so Kevin can’t cash the ticket until Tuesday. He tries to keep it a secret, but unfortunately, he still lives with his terminally talkative Grandma (Loretta Devine).
Soon, Kevin’s life has taken a marked turn for the worse, or at least the more dangerous. He has all kinds of new “friends” and his real longtime chums – including Brandon T. Jackson as best bud Benny and Naturi Naughton as true-blue gal pal Stacie – are feeling neglected.
Teairra Mari as foxy Nikki appoints Kevin her newest cutie. The local pastor, slick Rev. Taylor, preaches a sermon about a new church project and it’s aimed straight at Kevin’s pew. The local loan shark, Sweet Tee (the always excellent Keith David), is happy to float Kevin a $100,000 loan and also to lend him a torpedo named Jimmy the Driver (Terry Crews) to look after his (their) interests.
And the most dangerous man in the projects – psycho ex-con Lorenzo (Gbenga Akinnagbe) – wants that ticket, and doesn’t care whom he has to bash to get it. (Read more…)