Three out of
Five stars
Running time:
103 mins
Enjoyably fluffy romcom that puts its multiple cliches to good use, aided by a likeable comic performance by Lohan.
What's it all about?
In her first role as an adult, Lindsay Lohan plays Ashley, a Manhattan woman with a lifelong lucky streak, which makes her the envy of her two best friends (Samaire Armstrong and Bree Turner) and a success at her marketing job. Meanwhile, unlucky Jake (Chris Pine, Princess Diaries II) is Ashley's polar opposite, his perpetual clumsiness continually foiling his attempts to promote up and coming band McFly (McFly play a major part in this film).
However, when Ashley and Jake share an anonymous kiss at a masquerade ball, they find their fortunes dramatically reversed. Figuring out what must have happened (it's that kind of movie), Ashley determines to get her luck back, even if she has to kiss every dancer in New York.
The Good
Fans of Lindsay Lohan's previous films will be pleased to learn that she's lost none of her comic timing and self-deprecating charm - she's extremely appealing here, even if she does need to rediscover the joys of food. Pine makes a likeable lead and he does his best with an underwritten part.
The script has an appealing fantasy premise, which is used for a series of surprisingly successful pratfall-type gags. A hilarious sequence featuring newly accident-prone Ashley in the bathroom is a particular highlight.
The Bad
The supporting cast are a bit of a let-down. Missi Pyle is fine as Ashley's manic boss, but Samaire Armstrong's constant mugging and grimacing is extremely annoying.
Also, for a film that was so blatantly designed to promote McFly, it doesn't present the band in a particularly good light; they're terrible actors and their songs sound flat and uninspiring (you'd never guess they were a real band).
Worth seeing?
Just My Luck may be gimmicky and cliched but it's never less than watchable, thanks to Lohan's likeable screen persona. Fluffy, if forgettable fun.