An easy too cringe comedy which does not hit any peaks whatsoever,
Jerry And Marge Go Large has as its plotline the true life story of the Michigan retiree Jerry Selbee (Bryan Cranston), and his wife Marge (Annette Bening) who manage to emerge victorious from a state lottery game thanks to a mathematical loophole that the couple exploits.
After winning their first game and owing to their need for more ‘money’, the two start playing several more lottery games where they invest thousands of dollars purchasing lottery tickets in order to cater not only for their needs but also those of the residents of their closest small-sized community. Their new-founded occupation attracts so many local fans around the country but when a couple of Harvard students genius after geniuses come in their dreams and try to smartly rob them of their game, Jerry has to make a hard decision to accept their business expansion.
This time, such is the expectation of David Frankel’s feel good film as Jerry and Marge go large where the two stars have done just enough in order to ensure that the story of their characters played by Cranston and Bening is a tight sellable one. Their story is fairly enjoyable as gambling pastimes go, although the logistics of what they are doing is a bit questionable. Who knows how true this video is films like these are a stain on the psyche, but when you have a rainy Saturday afternoon to burn, this is fairly useful if you’re looking for something that takes very little effort.
Yet, the film is devoid of any great urge. Apart from the Selbees bumping into the two spoiled Harvard youngsters every once in a while, there is very little else here that raises the level of concern. Scams and cheating the lottery and its sponsors is a no-no for the couple, because their so-called dirty scheme turns out to be legal. Rather, the rest of the film revolves around Jerry and Marge moving from town to town, state by state, trying to purchase and count their tickets. When they encounter some minor mishaps, there is an opportunity for some laughter, but for the most part, this particular film is very dull and lacking direction.
The film is quite tension free, it is still enjoyable to watch Jerry and Marge traversing the country in search of parking machines. They have been at such distant workplaces for so long and it is charming to watch the two get closer together and congratulate each other on their various victories. This gives the impression that it is not the prospect of wealth that motivates them to play the game but their desire to be in the same room and so they are within close vicinity. This is rather endearing though the ethics of what they are doing may be questionable.
Probably the most unfortunate thing is that there aren’t many characters outside of Rainn Wilson’s stoner store attendant who is actively interesting as Jerry and Marge’s search for empty slots. Most of the people that we encounter are well known to us and do not vary in much depth. This is not really such a critical problem as anchor ties are primarily supposed to be focused on the story of the married couple in the movie.
Should the readers have been more acquainted with the people who make Selbee’s community or its struggles with money, the general story would still have been enhanced. As it is, we find out that the residents decide to collect funds for the most important Jazzfest which does not represent the best opportunity to spend the thousands of pounds they end up getting. This is purportedly based on true events so perhaps it is not surprising that characters with their more basic needs were invented. Still, some creative liberty as to what real characters struggling with poverty would look like could have been exercised more freely.
There is yet another one, however, and that is the film’s tone. Frankel does an alright job directing but this does not feel like a film meant for a cinema screen. This looks like a television film and therefore, it is not surprising why this was aimed at a quick release on Paramount+’s streaming service. To this end, perhaps a better name would have been ‘Jerry and Marge Go Small’ because at the end of the day, despite all it’s Jerry went to desires for film making, nothing big happens here.
In the end, this is a pretty standard film with steadies provided by Cranston and Bening who try in some parts to elevate the otherwise predictable script. There are some amusing moments during the run time. For instance, the scene when Jerry goes to Harvard in order to sort out the trouble makers trying to mess with his business deal was rather entertaining. However, this should have been more engaging than it is. This film is not the worst ever made but it is not worth the risk if you want a movie with a significant emotional plot.
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