Today’s Prayer Focus

Lottery Ticket

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA)

for sexual content, language including a drug reference, some violence and brief underage drinking.

Moral Rating:	not reviewed
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:	Teens Adults
Genre:	Comedy
Length:	1 hr. 39 min.
Year of Release:	2010
USA Release:	August 20, 2010 (wide—1,900+ theaters) DVD: November 16, 2010

Relevant Issues

Money in the Bible

How can I spend my money more wisely? Answer

Does the Bible share any wisdom about investing? Answer

Drunkenness

Sin

Wisdom

Featuring	Terry Crews (Jimmy the Driver), Keith David (Sweet Tee), Brandon T. Jackson (Benny), Ice Cube, Loretta Devine, Mike Epps (Minister), TJ Hassan (Interviewee), Bow Wow (Kevin Carson), Naturi Naughton (Stacie), Jason Weaver (Ray Ray), Edward Bryan (Camera Sound Man), Gbenga Akinnagbe (Lorenzo Mack), Bill Bellamy, Chris Williams (Doug), See all » Jon Gould (News Reporter), Faheem Najm, Stacie Davis (Reporter), Vince Green (Malik), Keith Allen Hayes (Father Of A Young Boy), Leslie Jones (Tasha), Demetrius B. Banks (Neighbor), Derrick Simmons (Train Passenger #2), Cindy Jefferson (Neighborhood mom), Leland L. Jones (Man in the Crown), Darryl D. Moore (Neighbor #5), Ron Clinton Smith (Officer Ark), Lem Collins (Hoodlum), Miko DeFoor (Janitor), Joseph Harold (Hoodlum), Barry Hopkins (Man on Bus), Zoë Grace Hargrove (Little Girl #2), Jayson Warner Smith (Maitre de), Josh Warren (Interviewee), Deidre D. Mosely (Neighbor), Tequilla Whitfield (Lil Kevin Carson’s Mom), April Tyler (Store Patron), Norman Wakefield (Neighbor), Amari Gable (Lil Kevin Carson), Michael Gerbick (Warehouse Worker), Jazlyn M. Green (Neighbor), Patrick Rofoli (Interviewee), Andre Mayon (Officer Ross), Marki Henderson (Deacon), Stephen Bise (Restaurant Patron—uncredited), Nilsa Castro (Mall Shopper—uncredited), John Collier (Mall Shopper—uncredited), Andre Davis (Church Member—uncredited), Willie D. Davis IV (Crowd Member—uncredited), Gilbert Galon (Restaurant Patron—uncredited), Kelso Harvin (Store Patron—uncredited), Jeanette Stout (Jewelry Store Patron—uncredited), Zuri (Store Patron—uncredited)
Director	Erik White
Producer	Alcon Entertainment, Burg/Koules Productions, Cube Vision, Matt Alvarez, Timothy M. Bourne, Mark Burg, Yolanda T. Cochran, Ice Cube, See all » Broderick Johnson, Brad Kaplan, Andrew A. Kosove, Oren Koules, Steven P. Wegner, Andrew Wilson
Distributor	Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company

“Winning is just the beginning. Surviving is another story.”

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “Kevin Carson (Bow Wow) a young man living in the projects, is just an ordinary guy… until he wins $370 million in the Mondo Millions Lottery.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is, the lottery claim office is closed for the long Fourth of July weekend, so, before he can collect his prize, Kevin is going to have to figure out how to keep a lid on his good fortune and survive the next three days.

As news of his windfall spreads through the community like a grass fire, Kevin quickly discovers the good, the bad and the ugly in his closest friends and neighbors. Girls who could never be bothered before start chasing him down. Everyone wants a piece of him—including the reverend, the local loan shark and one very threatening recent parolee won’t take no for an answer. On edge and on the run, he even begins to question the intentions of his best friend, Benny (Brandon T. Jackson).

He also starts to realize the power he holds in his hands and what this lottery ticket could really mean to him, his future, and the community.

It’s funny what people will do when money is involved.”

Violence: Heavy / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Extreme

Volunteer reviewer needed for this movie

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

Movie Critics

…In the end, then, Kevin must learn that stretch Hummers and $5,000 sneakers don’t necessarily bring much happiness, and that helping others is far more rewarding. … [2½/4]

Vanessa Farquharson, National Post

…“Lottery Ticket” isn’t the mega ball of outrageous comedy, but it’s still a winner because of the way director Erik White blends comic lunacy with sweet sentimentality. … [2½/4]

Rick Bentley, The Fresno Bee

…The comedy is broad, bordering on offensive, the laughs are few, and the positive message feels tacked on. But star Bow Wow shows his early youthful talent has blossomed into bona fide star appeal. …

Claudia Puig, USA Today

…a frantic, at times too-broad comedy… the script is never nearly as clever as the premise ought to allow, and the madcap fun is far too frequently derailed by tonal inconsistencies. There are bright moments to be found, however……

Andrew Barker, Variety

…For every well-intentioned speech Kevin gives about the lottery being a rigged game designed to keep poor folks down, there’s a montage of him giddily blowing wads of cash on sneakers and sports cars. If ‘Lottery Ticket’ had as much conviction as laughs, it could have hit the jackpot. …

Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly

…A disappointing, trite comedy overrun with African-American stereotypes. …

Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter

…We watch Kevin as he decides whom to trust and whom to run from—and it’s gratifying when his true friendships grow stronger. Unfortunately, his growth comes at a hefty price for moviegoers as White lets profanity, religious mockery, base sexuality and contempt for women move in on his original concept.

Meredith Whitmore, Plugged In