Lucky Grandma

Name: Lucky Grandma
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: May 22, 2020
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Clem Cheung, Eddie Yu, Hsiao-Yuan Ha, Lyman Chen, Mason Yam

2020

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Ratings

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Lucky Grandma

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Movie Details & Credits

Good Deed Entertainment | Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2020 | Not Rated

Starring: Clem Cheung, Eddie Yu, Hsiao-Yuan Ha, Lyman Chen, Mason Yam, Michael Tow, Tsai Chin, Wai Ching Ho, Woody Fu, Yan Xi

Summary: In the heart of Chinatown, New York, an ornery, chain-smoking, newly widowed 80-year-old Grandma (Tsai Chin) is eager to live life as an independent woman, despite the worry of her family. When a local fortune teller (Wai Ching Ho) predicts a most auspicious day in her future, Grandma decides to head to the casino and goes all in, only toIn the heart of Chinatown, New York, an ornery, chain-smoking, newly widowed 80-year-old Grandma (Tsai Chin) is eager to live life as an independent woman, despite the worry of her family. When a local fortune teller (Wai Ching Ho) predicts a most auspicious day in her future, Grandma decides to head to the casino and goes all in, only to land herself on the wrong side of luck...suddenly attracting the attention of some local gangsters. Desperate to protect herself, Grandma employs the services of a bodyguard from a rival gang (Corey Ha) and soon finds herself right in the middle of a Chinatown gang war.… Expand

Director: Sasie Sealy

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

Slashfilm Hoai-Tran Bui

May 21, 2020

Though the flavors of past genres are present in Lucky Grandma, all those ingredients add up to a truly unique, unforgettable dish that brings a familiar formula to a whole new level. Read full review

IndieWire Jude Dry

May 24, 2020

While the plot is not overly complex, Lucky Grandma benefits from a compelling array of supplementary characters. Read full review

The Guardian Ellen E Jones

Nov 5, 2020

The result is a film that’s people-pleasing in inverse proportion to its grouchy heroine. Read full review

Michael Phillips

May 19, 2020

An unusual, agreeable heist picture with just enough feeling behind the style to make it stick, Lucky Grandma rests almost wholly on the withering glances of Tsai Chin. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Matt Fagerholm

May 22, 2020

What makes this film special, first and foremost, is the performance by Chin, who has lost none of the acerbic edge she sported as Waverly’s mother in “The Joy Luck Club.” Read full review

G. Allen Johnson

May 19, 2020

Lucky Grandma isn’t a feel-good comedy at all, but has a parched-dry dark comic approach, keeping Grandma Wong at an emotional remove. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Jan 24, 2020

Although the entire film runs just 87 minutes, as Lucky Grandma unspools, Wong’s predicament starts to feel increasingly outlandish, making it difficult for Sealy to sustain the offbeat humor and strong momentum of the opening stretch. Read full review

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User Reviews

Brent_Marchant

May 27, 2020

Despite a slight tendency to meander late in the second half, this smartly written, consistently hilarious comedy about a surly widowed grandmother in New York's Chinatown whose unexpected lucky streak ends up landing her in the middle of a street war between rival Asian gangs. This send-upDespite a slight tendency to meander late in the second half, this smartly written, consistently hilarious comedy about a surly widowed grandmother in New York's Chinatown whose unexpected lucky streak ends up landing her in the middle of a street war between rival Asian gangs. This send-up of cheesy Chinese crime dramas, mixed with touches of understated wit and campy humor, makes for a warm, funny and touching tale, with an excellent, award-worthy lead performance by Tsai Chin and a fine supporting cast. Easily one of the most humorously entertaining offerings to come along in quite some time.… Expand

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KenR

Sep 20, 2022

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 herThey 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.… Expand

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