Movie Review: Logan Lucky

By William Anthony | Southern History Department | Central Library

Heist films are typically entertaining to watch because there are always so many sudden, unexpected factors that can easily get in the way of the perfect theft or robbery. Logan Lucky brings much needed excitement to the heist subgenre. Channing Tatum embraces his character, Jimmy Logan, with ambitious confidence to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway  during the Coca-Cola 600. Adam Driver plays Jimmy’s one-armed, bartending brother, Clyde Logan, who proudly goes along with this elaborate plan. They recruit the wild-eyed, incarcerated Joe Bang to help them funnel a lot of money through the speedway’s complex pneumatic tube system. Daniel Craig takes a break from his iconic role as James Bond and brings more necessary energy to the story as Joe Bang, who knows how to handle demolition. I can tell that the English actor had a blast playing this dangerous but highly dependable prisoner. With the additional help of the Logan brothers’ sister, Mellie, and Joe Bang’s two younger brothers, Fish and Sam, they all work together diligently to pull off a heist that seems impossible to attempt.

Every obstacle that the Logan brothers and company face such as Clyde losing his prosthetic arm or Joe Bang adjusting a plastic grocery bag full of homemade explosives makes their heist plan all the more memorable and intriguing. They even have a couple of close calls with security guards and a pompous NASCAR team owner. Overall, Logan Lucky also never takes itself too seriously. It is apparent that this clever team still has fun while breaking the law. Their heist even receives the nickname Ocean’s 7-Eleven. However, the outcome of all this stolen money is not what you may anticipate.

Logan Lucky is available to stream on Kanopy and to borrow on DVD in the Jefferson County Library Cooperative.