Movie Review: Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022)

Jerry & Marge Go Large is a beautiful film filled with tenderness and humor based on the true story of Jerry and Marge Selbee, retired people who found a loophole in the lottery system and managed to use it to win millions. Directed by David Frankel and starring Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening, this comedy-drama juxtaposes humor with intelligence and warmth to become enchanting.

Plot Summary

In the film, Jerry Selbee (Cranston) is a newly retired man in Evart, Michigan. A mathematical wizard and lifetime numbers person, Jerry feels rather adrift without his long-time factory job. He ponders retirement's wearisomeness and craves purpose. His wife Marge (Bening) remains supportive yet is concerned about his restless nature.

One day, Jerry discovers a loophole in the WinFall game of the Michigan lottery, realizing that he would be certain to profit by buying tickets in bulk at just the right time. He tells Marge about this, and together they manage to exploit this loophole. Instead of keeping the winnings to themselves, they enlist the entire small-town community to help them put the money to good use in resurrecting their dying town. What started as an eccentric little pastime soon grew up into a full-fledged operation worth millions.

With their financial stature increasing, Jerry and Marge drew unwanted attention from some Harvard students, who, having figured out the loophole, wanted to monopolize the system for themselves. This stirs the tension as the couple confronts the young entitled Ivy Leaguers who lacked a moral compass that the Selbees possessed. The story further extends into the territory of community, equity, and the true worth of wealth.

Performances

Bryan Cranston gives a riveting performance as Jerry, balancing intelligence with humility and dry wit. His performance embodies someone who enjoys solving problems as opposed to one who is simply after the money. Annette Bening's Marge, along for the ride, brings warmth and charm, providing credibly intimate moments for the couple. Their chemistry is one of the highlights of the film, showing a couple very much in love and working together toward a common goal.

Meanwhile, Rainn Wilson, a sarcastic and eccentric clerk, breaks the tension with humorous interludes. And the supportive characters lift the warmth of the story further, including Larry Wilmore as Jerry's cynical-yet-loyal friend.

Themes and Message

Jerry & Marge Go Large is about a lot more than the lottery; it is about community, purpose, and the unexpected ways in which people find meaning late in life. Jerry's mathematical skills are not for himself; instead, he invests the winnings back to improve his town, help friends, and keep businesses alive. This quality makes it different from the stereotypical movie where lottery winners are consumed with greed.

It also shows that Jerry's moral disposition is the opposite of entitlement enjoyed by Harvard students like Tyler (Uly Schlesinger), who sees this lottery loophole as a convenient way to make easy money without any guilt or regard for ethics or the people around. The story draws a subtly yet strongly implicit line between intelligence and wisdom.

Direction and Cinematography

The film is directed by David Frankel, maker of The Devil Wears Prada and Marley & Me. This gives the whole movie a light-spirited, entertaining mood where it never becomes too serious or overly dramatic. It has a pacing that keeps constant without taking the effect of humor and emotion away from the story. The cinematography captures small-town America in beautiful warm light along inviting scenery-reinforced where the community that Jerry and Marge cherish.

Criticism

The film is thoroughly entertaining; however, there are the predictable parts as well. The conflict between Jerry and the Harvard children feels a little clichéd; it's the familiar formula of the underdog versus the elite. The movie in itself also simplifies their real-life lottery scheme considerably, which makes it rather easy for a mainstream audience but could make it extremely frustrating for people wanting to delve more deeper into the actual mathematics of their strategy.

Final Verdict

Jerry & Marge Go Large is a wholesome film with lots of feel-good moments and strong performances, as well as a great message. This is a great relief from darker, action-packed films into a wholesome, uplifting story about a couple that put their brains together not just for their own good but for all in the community. It may not break new ground in storytelling but does so successfully in delivering an entertaining, touching experience.

Rating: 4/5