Logan Lucky Parent Guide

It seems even Steven Soderbergh can’t resist the Hollywood trend to reuse, remake and rerelease. While this acclaimed director is certainly skilled enough to produce an engaging movie, Logan Lucky is, essentially, a hillbilly remake of the Ocean’s movies he was remaking during the last decade.

Instead of suave and sophisticated George Clooney heading up the large cast of thieves, this time we have Channing Tatum playing war vet Jimmy Logan. Left with a leg injury from service in Iraq, Jimmy is fired from his earth moving job at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the opening minutes of the film after an HR minion noticed he walks with a limp. The cruel and heartless termination is the perfect setup for us to root for this blue-collar boy when he hatches an idea: return to his former workplace and steal a truckload of cash from a central depository buried under the raceway.

Next, we need a team. Jimmy’s brother Clyde (Adam Driver) is an obvious first choice, despite his loss of a hand, also a sacrifice made on behalf of his country. And their sister Mellie (Riley Keough) is game to help too. Recognizing they need someone who has “professional” experience, the siblings seek out an old buddy in their small Virginia community who happens to be in prison. Joe Bang (Daniel Craig) is an explosive safecracker and even though he says he’s not interested, Jimmy quickly convinces him otherwise after revealing Joe’s former girlfriend robbed his hidden stash of previous profits.

This PG-13 film has numerous profanities, including a sexual expletive, crude finger gesture and a pickup truckload of scatological terms. Yet, luckily, in other areas it doesn’t push the limits of its rating. Frequent alcohol consumption fuels most of the altercations, including a bar fight that leads to a car being set ablaze. Plus, there’s a detailed scene of how to make a bomb with a few things from around the house. Sexual content is limited to many short skirts and other revealing clothing on women.

But parental concerns in media aren’t always about sex and violence. Following in the steps of the Ocean’s movies and other recent releases, like the latest Going in Style, it’s the themes in this story that should be carefully considered. Stealing money is a glamourous business in movies and even those who go to jail are seen living a life better than most elderly people would expect in a care home. There are little or no consequences for these illegal activities and even assaults are glossed over with comedic outcomes. As well, you may want to remind any young viewers that the success of these criminals relies on a bundle of beneficial coincidences.

There’s no denying that Logan Lucky is a fun film to view and offers an interesting portrait of life in the south without exploiting harmful stereotypes too much. Yet the stylized, creative camera work and precise editing are a thin veneer covering a message that lying, cheating and stealing are the basis of good luck.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.