Lucky Grandma

Released May 22, 2020

1 hr. 40 min.

Drama

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List

96%

69 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

In New York City's Chinatown, a Chinese grandma goes all in at the casino, landing herself on the wrong side of luck.

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Premiered Aug 29

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Critics Consensus

Lucky Grandma gives Tsai Chin a long-overdue opportunity to shine in a leading role -- but it's audiences who are the truly fortunate ones.

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Ken R

They don't come that much more un-Hollywood (quirky) than Lucky Grandma...when was the last time you watched a movie with a droll 80yr old chain-smoking woman as the main star? Is Grandma lucky? well, challenged would be a better fit. Poor Grandma, 40 odd years working hard beside her husband only to find she's been left with virtually nothing. The best thing we can take away from this story is; Luck is an illusion you can't bank on...no matter what the fortune readers may tell you. While there are good helpings of ironic humor and comical situations ‘Grandma' at times presents with some slightly unsettling violence, occasioning death, courtesy of rivalry between a couple of local Chinese crime gangs. To find out how Grandma is drawn into these situations you'll just have to watch. Thankfully, the links with family offer an all-important and warming strength to Grandma's very edgy entrapments. There are plenty of odd, well-played Characters injecting fun throughout, along with some rather sinister types you'd be happy not to meet. An imaginative music score from Andrew Orkin adds nice touches - while the visuals provided by El Salvadorian Cinematographer, Eduardo Enrique Mayen supply professional contrasts between New York Chinatown's side streets, back alleys, and grannies' meager apartment...where it seems there's always someone knocking on her door! The first theatrical feature from director/writer Sasie Sealy gives us good cause to want to see her next effort.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/25/22

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Audience Member

Not what I thought it would be about.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

this was really great. the concept that an old lady could swindle the mob might be far fetched, but unlike a lot of comedy movies, everything that happened was potentially realistic in the context. there were plenty of laughs and cute moments. big pong was my favorite character by far.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I'm not sure why critics are lowballing this movie so much. Tsai Chin does amazing work with a role that could have gone horribly wrong with the wrong actor, and she makes even the wackiest parts seem somehow grounded. The writing and direction are taut and entertaining, and a meaningful theme about loneliness, grief, anger, and vulnerability is just below the surface. All of this without being heavy-handed about it. And as if that's not enough, it takes a well-worn sub-genre (found money) and, without too many spoilers, does something new with it. It's the best movie no one is watching.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

So many unexpectedly funny scenes. And the characters were a delight -- so different than what we normally see in film, especially ones that involve Chinese gangsters. Anyone who appreciates a good indie film with a lot of humanity would enjoy this, but for Chinese Americans this will really hit home.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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marek s

Funny gangster comedy. Well made and very funny Korean movie similar to a Guy Richie / Tarantino with a bit of Wes Anderson / Luc Besson flare to it. Fresh and well worth a watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Sasie Sealy

Director

Christine Chang

Bank Teller

Wayne Chang

Bank Manager

Lyman Chen

Sister Fong's Driver

Clem Cheung

Benny Ng

Tsai Chin

Grandma

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Lucky Grandma: Trailer 1

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Nell Minow

AWFJ.org

The exhuberant vitality of Lucky Grandma is a delight, with a wonderfully droll performance by Tsai Chin.

Nov 3, 2021

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Anne Cohen

Chicago Reader

In this incandescent and utterly delightful debut, director Sasie Sealy delivers a sparkling movie that centers the story of an elderly woman of color with the agency, care, and attention it deserves.

Feb 15, 2021

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

She and she alone makes the movie worth your time.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 15, 2021

Full Review

Zoë Rose Bryant

Loud and Clear Reviews

Lucky Grandma serves as a showcase for the side-splitting acting skills of star Tsai Chin first and foremost, amusing audiences around the world.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 1, 2022

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Cris Kennedy

The Canberra Times (Australia)

I'll take a chain-smoking cynical octogenarian over capped teeth and muscles any day. Here is heroism we can all achieve.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 15, 2022

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Victoria Luxford

City AM

Light enough to entertain but dark enough to keep you interested, Tsai Chins stern glare will etch itself into your heart as she brings some laughs to a gloomy year.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 26, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

In New York City's Chinatown, a Chinese grandma goes all in at the casino, landing herself on the wrong side of luck.

Director: Sasie Sealy
Executive Producer: Melvin Mar
Screenwriter: Banban Cheng, Sasie Sealy
Distributor: Good Deed Entertainment
Production Co: Parris Pictures, Treehead Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 22, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 2, 2020

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