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Lucky Break

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Lucky Break

PG-13

Released Apr 5, 2002

1h 47m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

47%

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45 Reviews

48%

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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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Critics Consensus

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

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Dec 23, 2002

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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

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Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

A prison comedy that never really busts out of its comfy little cell.

Rated: 2/4

May 31, 2002

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Film Threat

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 8, 2005

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Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Rated: 3/5

Oct 6, 2004

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Audience Member

nothing really special, but nevertheless a nice little (bitter-)sweet british movie. i liked it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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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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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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