The 2010 comedy film Lottery Ticket follows young Kevin Carson (Bow Wow) living in an impoverished neighborhood, who wins a $370 million lottery jackpot but must survive the next three days until he can claim his prize while avoiding the many people who want a piece of his winnings. The film explores themes of greed, luck, community, and morality. Let’s take a look at how everything comes together at the end of this funny and thought-provoking movie.
What happens in the lead up to the climax?
Throughout the movie, Kevin’s neighbors become aware that he has the winning lottery ticket and schemes unfold to try and steal it from him before he can cash it in. His best friend Benny (Brandon T. Jackson) tries to protect Kevin and his winnings, while love interest Stacie (Naturi Naughton) also stands by his side. However, tensions rise as Lorenzo (Gbenga Akinnagbe), a local gangster, attempts to strongarm Kevin into handing over half of the jackpot.
Lorenzo ends up kidnapping Stacie to force Kevin to give him the winning ticket. Kevin and Benny devise a plan to rescue Stacie and trick Lorenzo by giving him a fake lottery ticket instead. This leads to a climactic confrontation where Lorenzo realizes the ticket is fake, and a chaotic scene unfolds with Lorenzo’s crew hunting for Kevin.
How does the conflict come to a head?
The action reaches its peak when Lorenzo corners Kevin and Benny at a local train yard. As Lorenzo threatens them to reveal the real winning ticket, a struggle ensues. Lorenzo shoots at Kevin and Benny, barely missing them. Suddenly, the neighborhood residents show up, surrounding Lorenzo’s crew. Kevin had tipped them off earlier to come help at the critical moment.
Kevin’s neighbors stand together against Lorenzo, outnumbering his gang. Lorenzo tries to run but is caught and arrested. Kevin emerges safely with the winning ticket. The community’s teamwork and loyalty has saved Kevin from Lorenzo’s greed.
Conclusion
In the final scenes, Kevin claims his $370 million prize money and hosts a huge block party for the whole neighborhood to celebrate. Despite everything he went through, Kevin shares his fortune and good luck with his community. He makes plans to invest in restoring the neighborhood, showing his compassion and moral character.
The story ends on a feel-good note with Kevin’s dreams coming true, love between him and Stacie, and friendships reaffirmed. Lottery Ticket conveys uplifting messages about standing united against adversity, resisting greed, and clinging to hope in difficult circumstances. While material wealth presents temptations, true happiness lies in our connections with others.
What is the main message or moral of the story?
The major themes and messages in Lottery Ticket include:
– Greed and envy can make people turn on each other, even friends. But being generous and looking out for your community is more fulfilling.
– Money can’t buy real friendship and love. Our bonds with others matter more than wealth.
– Persevering through challenges makes succeeding sweeter. Kevin could have given up, but he stayed determined.
– Fighting adversity is easier when you have people who support you. Kevin’s neighbors band together to help him in his time of need.
– Kindness and moral courage are their own rewards. Kevin wanted to use his winnings to help people, not selfishly hoard his money.
– Luck comes with responsibilities to share the opportunities you’re given with others. Kevin wins big, but remains grounded and wants to spread the prosperity.
Overall, the film highlights community, morality, and humility as the true keys to happiness, beyond just pursuing money and status. Kevin learns these lessons over the course of his incredible luck, both good and bad.
Supporting Characters
Let’s explore some of the other key characters besides Kevin in Lottery Ticket:
Benny
Benny is Kevin’s loyal best friend who sticks by his side throughout his lottery adventures. Benny acts as Kevin’s voice of reason, warning him about the dangers of telling people and trying to keep him safe from those who want to take advantage of him. He comes through for Kevin multiple times, helping save him from Lorenzo in the end. Benny represents true friendship and looking out for your friends before yourself.
Stacie
Kevin’s love interest Stacie is a strong female role model in the film. She Grounds Kevin and believes in him when many others only see his lottery winnings. Even when kidnapped by Lorenzo, she keeps faith that Kevin will save her. Stacie shows the importance of perseverance and resilience. She doesn’t let obstacles shake her or her relationship with Kevin.
Lorenzo
As the intimidating neighborhood gangster, Lorenzo serves as the main antagonist. He represents how greed and a sense of entitlement can corrupt someone into harming others for their own gain. Lorenzo feels he deserves part of Kevin’s prize money, trying to steal it through threats. His arrogance ultimately leads to his downfall, as he underestimates the community coming together against him. Lorenzo provides the peril that brings out the heroic traits in Kevin.
Ms. Stella
The widow Ms. Stella plays a small but symbolic role. Kevin promises to give her some of his winnings to transform her flower shop. She represents hopes and dreams that seem impossible until an unexpected miracle – like Kevin’s lottery luck – comes along. Ms. Stella shows the positive impact that wealth can have when used generously and for good causes. Her flower shop dream coming true inspires Kevin.
Sweet Tee
Sweet Tee is an enthusiastic young woman who sells lottery tickets in the neighborhood. She provides comic relief throughout the movie with her bubbly personality. Sweet Tee also represents optimism and hope amongst hardship. Her lively spirit lifts up those around her, like when she organizes the impromptu neighborhood block party at the end to celebrate Kevin’s triumph.
Use of Comedy
Lottery Ticket utilizes comedy to entertain while also conveying its deeper messages. Much of the humor comes from satirizing human flaws like greed and vanity. For example, the over-the-top scheming of Kevin’s neighbors when they learn he has the ticket is funny but also shows the absurd lengths people will go to for money.
The movie incorporates physical comedy as well, like when characters get into chaotic fights and chases over the lottery ticket. Benny’s character especially brings slapstick humor with his goofy, freewheeling energy. The comedy helps make the story emotionally engaging, while allowing us to laugh at the foibles of human nature.
Key Examples of Humor
Some notable comedic moments include:
– Neighbors like the barbers foolishly making lavish spending plans before Kevin has even won the money.
– Benny’s ongoing banter and exaggerated reactions to events.
– The elderly woman who disguises herself as a nurse to try getting Kevin’s ticket, only to get caught.
– Sweet Tee’s bubbly energy and funny t-shirts with sayings like “Princess” and “Daddy’s Girl.”
– Physical comedy when various characters attack Kevin and Benny or get hurt in silly ways.
– Lorenzo’s over-the-top angry reactions as his plans deteriorate.
The humor helps make the story more fun and engaging, while the core messages shine through about community, morality, and redemption. The comedy makes the neighborhood and characters feel multidimensional and full of life.
Use of Music
As a comedy with dramatic elements, Lottery Ticket utilizes an eclectic soundtrack of hip hop, R&B, and pop music to enhance the storytelling. Upbeat songs during montages and comedic moments amplify the fun, high-energy tone.
During more serious or emotional scenes, slower soulful tunes help convey thoughtful ideas and feelings. The music often reflects the experiences of the working class neighborhood characters. Many songs come from prominent African American artists, matching the film’s predominantly black cast and setting.
Notable Songs in the Soundtrack
Some recognizable tracks featured in Lottery Ticket include:
– “Hustle Hard” by Ace Hood – Plays during opening shots of the neighborhood. Upbeat, inspirational tone about persevering.
– “Winner” by Jamie Foxx – Soulful song that plays after Kevin wins lottery, capturing his emotions.
– “Streetz on Lock” by TQ – Edgy rap song underscoring Lorenzo’s intimidating presence.
– “Shawty Say” by Roscoe Dash – Lighthearted pop-rap music during Benny and Kevin’s banter.
– “Where the Party At” by Jagged Edge – Lively R&B jam that accompanies the climactic block party.
The songs woven throughout amplify both the comedy and sentimentality. The music energizes the audience and helps convey the scrappy, lively spirit of the characters and community.
Sets and Locations
Most of Lottery Ticket takes place in the working class neighborhood where Kevin and the other main characters live. The setting has a key impact and almost acts as a character itself. The neighborhood provides a backdrop of hardship, struggle, and economic anxiety that motivates the characters.
Sets and locations that feature prominently include:
– Housing project apartments where Kevin and his grandma live. Shows their modest lifestyle.
– Corner grocery store where neighbors shop and congregate. Heart of the community.
– Empty storefront where Ms. Stella dreams of opening her flower shop, representing hope.
– Benny’s house, the hangout spot where Kevin and friends make plans.
– Lorenzo’s home base that depicts the danger he represents.
– Train yard where climactic fight takes place, symbolic turning point location.
– Street block where the final party unfolds, bringing everyone together joyously.
The neighborhood scenery builds a sense of place and community identity. The setting reflects realities like poverty but also the resilience and optimism of being together. Overall, the locale is almost like an additional character shaping the story.
Behind the Scenes Facts
Here are some interesting facts about how Lottery Ticket was made behind the scenes:
Casting Choices
– Bow Wow was cast as Kevin to appeal to young audiences, as he was a popular rapper at the time.
– Terry Crews plays a supporting role as Kevin’s streetwise uncle. Crews was known for action movies and brought some comedy chops.
– The film marked one of Brandon T. Jackson’s first major roles after success in Tropic Thunder. It helped cement him as a comedy star.
Filming Locations
– Lottery Ticket was shot primarily in Atlanta, Georgia which stood in for the unnamed city in the film.
– The neighborhood depicted is actually the East Lake Meadows public housing complex in Atlanta.
– Scenes were also filmed in the cities of Lawrenceville and Marietta, Georgia nearby.
Reception and Box Office
– Lottery Ticket scored poorly with critics, earning just 26% on Rotten Tomatoes. But audiences responded better, giving it an A- CinemaScore.
– The movie exceeded expectations at the box office, grossing $24 million against a $17 million budget.
– It likely benefited from marketing to African American audiences and a lack of other major releases opening the same weekend.
While critics were mixed, Lottery Ticket stands out as a cult favorite comedy that gave Bow Wow one of his more memorable starring film roles.
Comparison to Other Films
Lottery Ticket fits into the tradition of funny, contemporary stories about everyday people suddenly coming into wealth and how it affects them and their communities. Some other movies with similar themes include:
Brewster’s Millions
The 1985 Richard Pryor comedy follows a minor league baseball player (Pryor) who must spend $30 million in 30 days to inherit $300 million from a deceased relative. It’s a humorous take on someone unequipped to handle wealth suddenly coming into a windfall.
Click
The 2006 Adam Sandler film includes a subplot about a simple working class man (Sandler) who wins the lottery, only to have the money complicate his life, like attracting gold diggers. It shows the downsides of sudden wealth.
Friday
The acclaimed 1995 comedy starring Ice Cube features two friends in a poor LA neighborhood hoping to pay back a $200 debt before a local drug dealer gets them. Its urban setting and themes of community and morality align with Lottery Ticket.
While Lottery Ticket didn’t achieve the critical praise of films like Friday, it encapsulates similar ideas through its own fresh comedic lens. Kevin’s story as an unlikely lottery winner navigating good fortune spoke to audiences.
Lasting Impact and Legacy
While not necessarily a landmark film, Lottery Ticket makes its mark through:
Spotlight on Black Stories
The predominantly African American cast and crew were rare for a mainstream 2010 comedy. It captured an underrepresented experience in entertainment.
Launchpad for Young Stars
Bow Wow, Brandon T. Jackson, and Naturi Naughton gained exposure in key early career roles. Their talent shines through.
New Interest in Lottery Films
The box office success helped revitalize interest in lottery storylines. More recent examples include Uncut Gems and Here Today.
Cult Fandom
Though not acclaimed at first, Lottery Ticket built up devoted fans, especially among younger African American audiences. Its reputation has grown through the years.
Quotes Entered Pop Culture
Lines like “Gimme my money!” from Lorenzo became catchphrases quoted in other media and everyday life.
While not Oscar-worthy filmmaking, Lottery Ticket entertains and touches on universal themes we all face. Kevin’s journey makes us think about our own hopes, morals, fears, and relationships. The film enjoys nostalgic appeal that keeps it relevant today.
