Lucky Break

Play trailer

Lucky Break

PG-13

Released Apr 5, 2002

1h 47m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Dec 23, 2002

Full Review

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

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

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

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Peter Cattaneo

Director

James Nesbitt

Jimmy

Olivia Williams

Annabel

Timothy Spall

Cliff Gumbell

Bill Nighy

Roger 'Rog' Chamberlain

Lennie James

Rudy 'Rud' Guscott

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

My Baby's Daddy

6%

50%

My Baby's Daddy

Watchlist

Teaching Mrs. Tingle

19%

31%

Teaching Mrs. Tingle

Watchlist

Joe Dirt

9%

64%

Joe Dirt

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Joe Dirt

The New Guy

7%

54%

The New Guy

Watchlist

Hollywood Ending

47%

49%

Hollywood Ending

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now