I am a fan of Adam Driver. I’m just going to get that out of the way. I’m biased, and I’m swayed, and I am easily goaded into seeing movies with his face on the cover. That’s it, that my confession.
So, when I saw the trailers and posters for Logan Lucky, I knew I was going to like it. I knew that that I was going to sit down and wait for the moment when Driver delivered an emotionally tempered, minimalist and deadpan performance and then I was going to smile. I went in with the expectation in mind, and usually that’s a bad thing. Movies generally disappoint me in the way of my own expectations, which usually leads to the rising of anger and frustrations. Luckily for me, that was not the case with Logan Lucky.
Channing Tatum leads this flick, about a down to earth laborer with a bum leg. He’s let go from his job, where he works beneath the Charlotte Motor Speedway. With a checkered past and some skills in criminal activity, he convinces his one-armed, sorry…one-handed, brother, Driver, to help him in his plan.
The first step of the plan is to recruit the character of Joe Bang, played by Daniel Craig, and we’re introduced to the prison system that will become a character of its own by the time the credits roll. The rest of the flick is the ups and downs that come with the plan unfolding. The plan being that they will break into the massive vault, filled with cash that sits underneath the motor speedway. Which of course requires that they break in…and out of… jail.
In an Ocean’s 11’s type heist movie, we are given all the same twists and turns, up and downs, and sweet reveals. The only difference is that this movie tells you that it’s going to happen before it does. Then reminds you that it’s happening as it does so. Almost like that guy that pokes you in the side with his elbow to make you see that he was right about that one thing that one time, only I don’t want to punch Logan Lucky in the face, cause the movie actually does it well.
With characters like Joe Bang, his cousins and the Logon Brothers (Tatum and Driver), as well as side characters portrayed by Katie Holmes, Sebastian Stan and even Seth MacFarlane, there is enough happening to keep you interested in every story and side story being told.
The audience is given the task of simply enjoying the story being told, not trying to figure a big twist, not stressing over the message of the plot. This is a good movie that tells its story and lets the suspension of disbelief be a fun endeavor. I highly recommend sitting down with a bowl of popcorn and something to drink and letting yourself enjoy the hour and a half that you’ll get from Logan Lucky.