Paul Feig is more than thrilled by the audience’s response to his new action comedy, Jackpot!, but the director simply cannot wrap his mind around why critics were not as enthusiastic about the movie. Feig recently sat down for a chat with Jesse Tyler Ferguson on his “Dinner’s on Me” podcast and discussed how critics “took the biggest dump” on his film and “excoriated” the team, wondering if they were trying to find a deeper meaning to a movie that was clearly meant to be fun.
On the podcast, Feig first expressed his delight, and then emphasized the fact that he’s a “comedy guy” and he intended to deliver just that – laughter.
“Now I can be happy because we’ve been the No. 1 movie worldwide on Amazon for four weeks in a row now, which is fantastic… But the critics excoriated us. I mean, took the biggest dump on this movie. All I can figure is like, from the reviews I read, I think they were trying to find a lot of meaning in this premise.
I’m like, guys, the only reason I did this premise is because it’s a Jackie Chan movie. Like, just a launchpad for a very funny person to be completely in danger and not know what’s going on, and then there’s sweetness and you find out their backstories. But don’t get mad at me because I didn’t do some polemic on the state of America today. I don’t want to do that. I’m a comedy guy.”
Jackpot! takes place in the future, in Los Angeles in 2030, and follows Katie Kim (Awkwafina), a former child actress who accidentally wins the Lottery and is attacked by the rest of the participants, with full liberty to claim the billion-dollar prize before sundown by terminating Katie. She meets Noel Cassidy (John Cena), a rookie Lottery protection agent who agrees to keep her safe in exchange for ten percent of her prize money. Although the movie is a blast to watch, the same isn’t reflected in its Rotten Tomatoes score, which sits woefully at 31% due to “a puerile script and erratic pacing.”
What’s Next for the Emmy-Nominated Director?
While the critical reception for Jackpot! has left Feig puzzled, the director has enjoyed a good deal of success in his decades-spanning career. He is most synonymous with creating the phenomenal cult classic series Freaks and Geeks, which, despite its short run, left a lasting impact on television. It even launched the careers of stars like Linda Cardellini, James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel. Feig’s directorial efforts are just as impressive, as he’s done successful comedies like Bridesmaids, Spy, The Heat, and Ghostbusters. All of these movies incorporate his signature elements like a clever script, subtle use of physical comedy, and relatable characters, showcasing his knack for finding humor within the most complex and offbeat narratives.
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Looking ahead, Feig is consistently pushing boundaries by taking risks in the comedy genre and being as honest as possible. He has wrapped production to A Simple Favor 2, the sequel to the 2018 comedy thriller starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. The leading ladies have returned to the familiar setting and are all set for the movie’s premiere in the spring. Feig is also helming a thriller adaptation of the bestselling novel The Housemaid for Lionsgate. A blend of suspense and comedy, it will see Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried share the screen together.
In the near future, a ‘Grand Lottery’ has been newly established in California – the catch: kill the winner before sundown to legally claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot. When Katie Kim (Awkwafina) moves to Los Angeles, she mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket. Desperate to survive the hordes of jackpot hunters, she reluctantly joins forces with amateur lottery protection agent Noel Cassidy (John Cena) who will do everything in his power to get her to sundown in exchange for a piece of her prize. However, Noel must face off with his slick rival Louis Lewis (Simu Liu), who also seeks to collect Katie’s commission at all costs.
- Release Date
- August 15, 2024