Luck

Review

Common Sense Media says

Adult-oriented horse drama is heavy on language and sex.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this adult-oriented drama is full of foul language, including "f--k," "s--t," and "c--t," and strong -- though not constant -- sexual content, including nudity and simulated sex acts. Role models are generally negative, and greed and dishonestly are major themes. There's also some social drinking and smoking.

  • Positive messages0
    As portrayed on the show, the world of horse racing is gritty and generally fueled by greed, deception, and get-rich schemes. It's also overwhelmingly male -- and pretty coarse.
  • Positive role models0
    A few characters have positive motives (including a female horse exerciser and a veterinarian), but the main characters are gamblers and swindlers who are obsessed with betting and pulling in big profits. Much of what they do bends the law or is explicitly illegal.
  • Violence2
    Heated arguing, etc. Some accidents involving horses and riders.
  • Sex5
    Sexual innuendo, etc., with occasional nudity, simulated sex acts, and crass sexual talk (including phrases like ("f--k my t-tties").
  • Language5
    Frequent use of unbleeped language including "f--k," "s--t," "c--t," "prick," "bitch," etc.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking2
    Social drinking, occasionally to excess. Some characters smoke cigarettes or cigars.
CloseExpand to see more details

What's the story?

Director Michael Mann and David Milch, creator of Deadwood, chronicle the complicated world of professional horse racing in LUCK, a character-driven drama about the intersecting lives of bookies, jockeys, agents, owners, and other key players on the scene. The star-studded ensemble cast includes Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte, Dennis Farina, Richard Kind, and Jill Hennessy.

Is it any good?

 

Luck may be the operative word when it comes to this carefully paced pay-cable drama that asks an awful lot of its audience -- as in, if you don't know much about horse racing, good luck trying to follow it. Zippy, the plot is not, and the tangled web of characters could really benefit from a flow chart. But the one thing Mann and Milch do right was cast well and give their actors meaty dialogue to chew on.

While the show's horses might not get top billing, they're as much a part of the action as anyone, and the show makes a point to give them well-deserved camera time with some startlingly beautiful shots. The result is a love letter to a fascinating world, albeit one full of vices and flaws, that you may want to get to know better but might never fully understand.

Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how the show's presence on pay cable allows it to push the envelope when it comes to language and sexual content. What would the show look like if it were to air on network television?

  • Are the show's writers deliberately pushing the envelope when it comes to language and sex, or are the characters merely written as a reflection of the way real people behave?

  • How accurately do you think the show portrays the world of professional horse racing? What are the real-life consequences of these characters' actions? What's the difference between legal and illegal gambling?

This review was written by Kari Croop

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
This review was written by Kari Croop
Topics:sports and martial arts, horses and farm animals
TV rating:TV-MA
Network:HBO
Cast:Dennis Farina, Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte
Genre:Drama
This review was written by Kari Croop
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Family-friendly horse films
For kids who love animal stories
Browse more TV
 

vote now

Will you see Luck?

Won't miss it
We'll try
Change it

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Been There? Tell us about it