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Lucky Break

Play trailer Poster for Lucky Break PG-13 Released Apr 5, 2002 1h 47m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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47% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
From the director of The Full Monty comes a comedy about a prison escape with a musical twist. Smalltime crook Jimmy (James Nesbitt) botches a bank robbery, lands in prison and stages a musical that turns out to be Act One of the perfect escape plan. But it's Act Two that's stumped Jimmy. His leading lady has captured his heart, and with one leg already over the wall, he's got to come up with a new ending ... as the curtain falls fast on his freedom.
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Lucky Break

Lucky Break

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Critics Consensus

Lucky Break fails to do anything new with The Full Monty formula.

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Critics Reviews

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Loren King Chicago Tribune The formulaic script, stocked with not one truly menacing inmate, echoes far too many sentimental post-Full Monty imports. Rated: 2/4 Jul 20, 2002 Full Review Terry Lawson Detroit Free Press A prison comedy that never really busts out of its comfy little cell. Rated: 2/4 May 31, 2002 Full Review Ann Hornaday Washington Post It's what the Brits themselves might call fair to middling. May 13, 2002 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Aug 8, 2005 Full Review Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Rated: 3/5 Oct 6, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Penelope Y I quite enjoyed this film- there’s always something distinctly different about a British film compared to an American one that I alway enjoy, and this captures it perfectly. The gritty characters, dark cheeky humour, and colourful personalities make for an entertaining watch. Somehow, they all come together to stage a heist and break out of prison, with an unexpected romance blooming along the way. The story finishes with an unexpected way. A great choice if you’re after something light, funny, and feel-good, filled with sharp lines and a brilliant British cast including Timothy Spall and Bill Nighy. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/14/25 Full Review isla s I found this really quite funny. There's a good cast with a number of well known British actors, including James Nesbitt, Timothy Spall and Bill Nighy. The plot is amusing and of course some of the scenes/situations are somewhat unlikely (aka absurd) but thats where most of the comedy comes from. I enjoyed listening to James Nesbitt singing along, as he rehearsed the play that the film centres on the convicts putting on. I thought James 'Jimmy' Hands was quite a likeable character. I suppose in a way I admired the sense of naive optimism shown by some characters. Its an easy and enjoyable watch - one I'd recommend. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A charming inoffensive film that features one of the best prison-based musicals of the life of Admiral Nelson. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member A gang of crooks make use of musical loving warden to escape prison. Director of The Full Monty tries to replicate the success of the previous film by making another using more or less the same formula. The outcome is not as successful, with predictable plot development including a love affair between the lead crook and a pretty anger-management counelor, and awkward use of its setting., which makes the whole thing look shallow. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member 'What is Tomato in Italian? Pomodoro...Apple of Love' And that is all!! its a nice commedy that grows in you the more you go through the film. SOme nice characters developped, but a liitle too theatrecal.. It a feel good movie...nice Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member It's a shame about the story because the British cast assembled for this rom-com in an offbeat setting is very good. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Peter Cattaneo

Director

James Nesbitt

Jimmy

Olivia Williams

Annabel

Timothy Spall

Cliff Gumbell

Bill Nighy

Roger 'Rog' Chamberlain

Lennie James

Rudy 'Rud' Guscott

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Lucky Break

Lucky Break (2001) Lucky Break (2001) Lucky Break (2001) Lucky Break (2001) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis From the director of The Full Monty comes a comedy about a prison escape with a musical twist. Smalltime crook Jimmy (James Nesbitt) botches a bank robbery, lands in prison and stages a musical that turns out to be Act One of the perfect escape plan. But it's Act Two that's stumped Jimmy. His leading lady has captured his heart, and with one leg already over the wall, he's got to come up with a new ending ... as the curtain falls fast on his freedom.
Director
Peter Cattaneo
Producer
Peter Cattaneo, Barnaby Thompson
Screenwriter
Ronan Bennett
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Miramax Films, FilmFour Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexual References|Brief Strong Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 5, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$54.6K
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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