Harold “Lucky” Lee (Terry Chen) resides in Calgary, Alberta with his wife Noel (Olivia Cheng) and daughters Grace (Connie Miu) and Jenny.
Lucky recently purchased an electronic repair business and is heavily leveraged. And his accountant, and long-time friend, advises him he owes the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) $15,000 in taxes. After Lucky receives a threatening call from CRA advising him a lien on his property will only be lifted if he makes an immediate partial payment of $10,000. Being a good taxpayer and fearful of a damaged credit rating he obtains an “instant loan” from a storefront loan shop wiring the funds to the CRA. A slight problem though as CRA calls him shortly after making the payment to discuss the $15,000 tax bill. Lucky is the victim of a classic scam i.e. where urgency and threats abound.
Lucky has a gambling problem and there may be hints throughout the film it has been in the past but as the film opens with Lucky (pre CRA scam) in a casino the hints may be red herrings. Lucky is charming and an excellent liar hiding money throughout the house and borrowing from Grace. He is perpetually short of funds and borrowing. Grace, a university student, secretly lends Lucky money. He stoops so low as to scam his accountant friend of $2,600 to rescue his car from the pound for unpaid parking tickets and fines yet he already paid the outstanding amount.
With his web of lies crumbling Lucky is back to high stakes “private” poker games to pay his debts. He wins a large sum of money but how much he owes and to whom is never described in the film. His lies have caught up with him and a frustrated Noel tosses him out of the house.
Is Lucky back on the straight and narrow he may never has been on? Grace has graduated and has a boyfriend. The entire family has a peaceful dinner at their favourite restaurant. Noel accepts Lucky’s out for a coffee invitation. Are things on the up and up? Who knows? That gives the film credibility and strong passing marks from me.
Strong performances from Chen, Cheng and Miu. Such a happy and good-looking family it seems. But a gambling addiction hides behind the facade.
Directed by Gillian McKercher.
RKS 2025 Canadian Film Rating 86/100.
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