Luck is a 2022 animated fantasy comedy film directed by Peggy Holmes and co-directed by Javier Abad. Produced by Skydance Animation and distributed by Apple TV+, the film features a voice cast including Eva Noblezada, Simon Pegg, Jane Fonda, and Whoopi Goldberg. Released on August 5, 2022, “Luck” explores the whimsical Land of Luck, delving into the concepts of good and bad fortune.Rotten Tomatoes+3Wikipedia+3Lifewire+3
🎬 Film Overview
- Title: Luck
- Release Date: August 5, 2022
- Directors: Peggy Holmes (Director), Javier Abad (Co-Director)
- Screenplay: Kiel Murray
- Story By: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Kiel Murray
- Producers: John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, David Eisenmann
- Production Company: Skydance Animation
- Distributor: Apple TV+
- Runtime: 105 minutes
- Language: English
- Budget: Over $140 millionRotten Tomatoes+2Wikipedia+2Roger Ebert+2
🗺️ Plot Summary
The story follows Sam Greenfield, an 18-year-old orphan who has aged out of the foster care system and is known for her perpetual bad luck. After a chance encounter with a talking black cat named Bob, Sam stumbles upon a lucky penny that momentarily changes her fortunes. However, she soon loses the penny and, in an attempt to retrieve it, follows Bob into the magical Land of Luck.Roger Ebert+3Roger Ebert+3Wikipedia+3Rotten Tomatoes+2Wikipedia+2Lifewire+2
In this hidden realm, good and bad luck are manufactured and distributed to the human world. Sam and Bob embark on a quest to obtain another lucky penny to help Sam’s friend Hazel, a young girl still in the foster system. Their journey takes them through various departments of the Land of Luck, including the Good Luck and Bad Luck sectors, and introduces them to a host of whimsical characters.
As events unfold, Sam learns that both good and bad luck are essential parts of life, and that embracing the unpredictable nature of luck can lead to personal growth and unexpected joys.Roger Ebert
🎤 Voice Cast
- Eva Noblezada as Sam Greenfield
- Simon Pegg as Bob, the black cat
- Jane Fonda as Babe the Dragon, CEO of Good Luck
- Whoopi Goldberg as The Captain, head of security
- Flula Borg as Jeff the Unicorn, facilities engineer
- Lil Rel Howery as Marvin, Sam’s boss
- Colin O’Donoghue as Gerry, a leprechaun
- John Ratzenberger as Rootie, a root monster and self-appointed mayor of Bad Luck
- Adelynn Spoon as Hazel, Sam’s friendRotten Tomatoes+3Lifewire+3Roger Ebert+3Wikipedia
🎨 Animation and Design
Skydance Animation, in collaboration with Madrid-based Ilion Animation Studios, brought the Land of Luck to life with vibrant visuals and imaginative character designs. The film’s animation showcases a contrast between the orderly, shimmering world of Good Luck and the chaotic, quirky realm of Bad Luck, emphasizing the film’s central theme of balance between fortune and misfortune.Roger Ebert+2Wikipedia+2Rotten Tomatoes+2
🎶 Music
The film’s score was composed by John Debney, known for his work on various family and adventure films. The music complements the film’s whimsical tone and enhances the emotional beats of Sam’s journey.Wikipedia
📺 Reception
“Luck” received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 48% approval rating based on 99 reviews, with an audience score of 66% . Critics praised the film’s animation and voice performances but criticized its convoluted plot and lack of originality. Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com noted that the film’s character design and dialogue were lacking, stating that “the mythology is mind-bogglingly convoluted” .Roger Ebert+2Wikipedia+2YouTube+2Rotten TomatoesRoger Ebert+1Roger Ebert+1
📈 Viewership and Impact
Despite mixed reviews, “Luck” performed well on Apple TV+, becoming the platform’s highest-performing original family film. According to Nielsen data, the film was watched by 2.2 million Apple customers in the U.S. aged two years or older within its first week of release .Wikipedia
🏆 Accolades
“Luck” received nominations for its musical score and character design:Wikipedia
- Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Nominated for Original Score — Animated Film (John Debney)
- Annie Awards: Nominated for Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production (Massimiliano Narciso)
