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Good Luck

Good Luck

List Price: $9.98
Your Price: $9.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Heart Warmer
Review: I bought this because when Gregory Hines recently died I wanted to see those movies he did that I had missed. Perhaps a poor reason, but better late than never. He was an accomplished actor and dancer. This DVD has a great price on it as well for the entertainment you will get out of it. I was pleasantly surprised. This is one of those feel good sleepers you run across now and then.

When Hines, playing a paraplegic, decides to enlist the aid of a blinded football star, played by D' Onofrio, to win a white water race, anything can happen. The friendship that develops is earned through hard work and the realization that no matter what, we can move forward with our lives.

Fans of movies like "Brian's Song", "Field of Dreams", "Cool Runnings", and "Amazing Grace" should enjoy it. Other than some ocassional bad language the movie is suitable for most the family.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: This film is an satisfactory way to spend 96minutes.
Review: I bought this film sight unseen as that is the only way I could see it. No video store had it.{most had never heard of it}And waiting for it to show up on t.v. could take months. I have had mixed results buying films unseen but this one did not disappoint. It won't go down as one of the best I have seen but I don't get the feeling the people behind it were shooting for greatness. They were just trying to tell the story of two men trying to rise above a handicap. And as that it works well. It contains a GREAT deal of bathroom humor. I'm not bothered by it but it's dwelt on to the point it becomes a little tiresome. Otherwise it's an enjoyable film. The performances by Hines and D'Onofrio are VERY good. I found D'Onofrio very belivable as a blind man and most of the films dramatic burden is carried by him. I am sure I'll spend 96 minutes with it agian.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Pleasant Surprise
Review: I first caught this flick whilst doin' a little insomnia-ridden late-night channel-surfin' a few years back. After encountering nothing but infomercials, I was kinda surprised to discover some real programming! I was just about to see what was brewin' on the next channel up when I saw Vincent D'Onofrio as the blinded and bitter formed NFL superstar Tony 'Olee' Olezniak. Aside from his role as the screw-up-come-Section-8 'Private Pyle' from 'Full Metal Jacket' and the giant-roach-in-disguise in 'Men In Black', I've never really taken a look at D'Onofrio's other thespian efforts, and was curious to see what he could do here. I must admit, he plays a pretty convincing blind man (reminded me of a few sightless folks I befriended many years back). He and Gregory Hines (as 'Lem' the easygoing-yet-oft-irritated paraplegic) display some good comedic chemistry in this umpteenth incarnation of the well-worn 'unlikely-partners-who-start-to-bond-and-actually-like-one-another-at-the-end' comedy with a bit of the 'road-trip' and 'underdogs-overcoming-adversity' formats thrown in for variety.

For a movie about 'gimps' (as Lem likes to call the handicapped), 'Good Luck' is surprisingly light-hearted. The often sophomoric and occasionally scatological humor hewn throughout this production (especially the 'playing-chicken-with-a-train' scene and the part where Olee asks Lem to describe a certain... thing) conveys reasonably solid proof that things aren't being taken too seriously 'round here. Aside from the funny stuff, 'Good Luck' has a little somethin' for everyone! There's Joe Theismann's cameo for all the pro football nuts. There's the pot-farmer-with-a-heart-of-gold to attract the sodbusters AND the stoners. A brief appearance by James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, is a virtual Star Wars-fan pheromone. The bug-eyed Robert O'Reilly, best known as the Klingon chancellor Gowron on NextGen and DS9, is a sure-fire Trekkie draw. There's even a chicken-foot-wielding, blackjack-playing small town mayor that's sure to bring in... um... well, someone-or-other. And I haven't even gotten to the guy with a clock on his hat yet! I tells ya, this baby is a marketing executive's dream!

'Late

Post Script: If you're interested in buying 'Good Luck' on DVD, be sure to get the Gold Series version (UPC #7-83722-70673-2 / ASIN: B00004ZBHC)! Its picture quality is slightly better (though not by much) than the earlier release, which had some pretty bad 'ghosting' and pixelation. And the new release's sound mix is much better than that of its predecessor!

'Later

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I really enjoyed this movie! Good Luck or The Ox and the Eye (which is a better title) is about two men, who are disabled, entering a white water race. It was heartwarming (when Lem and Tony try to enter the race, they are rejected because of their disabilities) and hilarious!!! There is some vulgar language, so this movie is not for children! The best part is it's rewatchable!!!! D'Onofrio and Hines at their best!!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Great performances are not enough to save it
Review: I rented this movie because I really adore the two lead actors. However, although they do the best they can, there is no saving this banal, movie of the week-esque movie. There are a couple of nice moments, most notably when D'Onofrio's character talks about his father and about his love of football. Other than that, the story seems to be cobbled together from many other "uplifting" movies. At times, you can not only guess what will happen next, but can guess what the exact line will be.

Football hero becomes self-pitying after an accident leaves him blind (and unable to satisfy his cheap girlfriend in the sack--which she exposes in a tell-all book). His tutor from school shows up, himself in a wheelchair, and pops this crazy idea to enter a whitewater rafting race. Even though he professes to have it all together and is all rah-rah, he still feels his own sadness that his dreams of being a dentist were dashed by a drunk driver. But first--you knew it!--they have to learn to trust each other. This involves whacky stunts. The two drive to the race, having adventures, learning about themselves and each other, suprising locals with can-do spirit. Each scene seems to end with the two sharing a warm laugh in the fuzzy sunset. Each person they run into is nutty. And even though I said I liked this, the lines from the scene where Olee talks about his dad seem to practically be directly from "The Breakfast Club" where the jock talks emotionally about his dad. Only the commitment of Hines and D'Onofrio keep this one from getting no stars at all.

So to recap: Person who's cocky and beloved for his physical prowess loses it and feels sorry for himself? Check. That person has one last chance to hear the chanting of the crowd and relive the glory? Check. Another person who's been down that same road of self-pity and redemption comes along to save him? Check. Two men bond on the road and endure colorful locals? Yup. Student becomes teacher? Yes. Locals try to keep them down? Check. Other dreamers lend a hand? Drunk driving? Boy stunted emotionally by father? Bathroom humor? Improbable competition set up to prove worth of the outsiders, and won to stirring music and cheers? All those who've been touched by the quest and who we've met along the way show up at the end? Suprise ending that is supposed to warm your heart and teach you what's really important? Yes, yes, yes.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Totally Underrated!!
Review: This is a fabulous "feel good" movie. I've watched it a dozen times and it's still a favorite to pop in the VCR when company comes calling. This movie never got the publicity it deserved so it's pretty much a surprise when I play it for guests. Then, everyone wants a copy. I probably would never have heard of it myself if my mom hadn't been an extra in it. It was filmed in Winchester Bay, Oregon where my mom had a gift shop.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Totally Underrated!!
Review: This is a fabulous "feel good" movie. I've watched it a dozen times and it's still a favorite to pop in the VCR when company comes calling. This movie never got the publicity it deserved so it's pretty much a surprise when I play it for guests. Then, everyone wants a copy. I probably would never have heard of it myself if my mom hadn't been an extra in it. It was filmed in Winchester Bay, Oregon where my mom had a gift shop.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Totally Underrated!!
Review: This is a fabulous "feel good" movie. I've watched it a dozen times and it's still a favorite to pop in the VCR when company comes calling. This movie never got the publicity it deserved so it's pretty much a surprise when I play it for guests. Then, everyone wants a copy. I probably would never have heard of it myself if my mom hadn't been an extra in it. It was filmed in Winchester Bay, Oregon where my mom had a gift shop.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Four stars for the warm-fuzzy!
Review: What a "happy movie!" Okay, so I'm a bit of a "Pollyanna," but I landed on this movie by chance one evening channel-surfing and found myself on the edge of my chair, chin resting on my hands, big grin across my face -- it's a "happy" movie ... I laughed, I cried -- I liked it so much I made my husband watch it with me the next night -- we laughed, we cried ... It's got humor (some kind of raunchy, but funny in its context), it's got relationship stuff, overcoming adversity stuff, struggles, victories -- it just made me feel "happy." Some of the situations these guys get into made us laugh out loud. I really, really liked the movie. Oh, and what a treat, for a former Barney Miller fan, to see good ol' Max Gail on screen! Great fun, great movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Basically, I can watch any movie with Vincent D'onofrio
Review: When I found this movie at the video store I was little nervous but after about fifteen minutes into it I really started to enjoy it. Yes, it is most definitely a guy movie and there is some vulgar bathroom humor. But, the acting and the theme make this a worthwhile rental. I really wish this movie was longer because near the end is when you can really feel the chemistry between D'onofrio and Hines. They really get comfortable with one another and I wanted more. The last thirty minutes of the movie is absolutly terrific because it just really picks up once they get to Gold City. Plus, the audience gets a better indepth perception of Olee(especially) and Lemely. I think that Vincent D'onofrio does a good job at playing a blind man. Unlike some actors he makes it believable throughout that he cannot see(it very natural it is like he is not acting, the way it should be). Rent this movie it is good I mean it only made like 40,000$ at the theater these small films need our support and plus how can you not respect an actor who can do a multimillion dollar film(Men in Black) and then do a tiny film like this one in the same year. Also, I would like to add that I am quite jealous of the guy who wrote a review and he was in the movie. I mean that is pretty cool it is pretty hard to top that! Hey I can be emailed at littlejake4@ivillage.com if you like the film or not.


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