Kevin Carson (Bow Wow) is a young man living in the projects. He's just an ordinary Guy until he wins $370 million in the Mondo Millions Lottery.
That's the good news.
The bad news is the lottery claim office is closed for the long Fourth of July weekend. Before he can collect his prize, Kevin is going to have to figure out how to keep a lid on his good fortune and survive the ensuing three days.
As news of his windfall spreads through the community like a grass fire, Kevin quickly discovers the good, the bad and the ugly in his closest friends and neighbors. Girls who could never be bothered before start chasing him down. Everyone wants a piece of him, including the reverend, the local loan shark and one very threatening recent parolee who won't take no for an answer.
On edge and on the run, he begins to question the intentions of his best friend, Benny (Brandon T. Jackson). He also starts to realize the power he holds in his hands and what this lottery ticket could really mean to him, his future and the community.
It's funny what people will do when money is involved.
Although it has different writers, someone definitely used "Friday" as a template, indicating how much influence Ice Cube really had in "Lottery Ticket."
We are introduced to Kevin's grandmother (Loretta Devine), who keeps Kevin grounded by raising him as best she can. Then there is his best friend Benny, who despite being loud and obnoxious, has mostly the right intentions when it comes to Kevin. His other friend Stacie (Naturi Naughton), could very well be the best thing that ever happened to him.
Kevin gets by for the most part without getting into any trouble. The neighborhood bully really has it in for him. He brings his crew to Kevin's job at Footlocker to get free shoes, but when Kevin decides to do the right thing and not comply, he still gets fired and the bully gets arrested and vows revenge.
This pretty much sets the stage for a great weekend adventure full of laughs. Watching Bow Wow and Brandon T. Jackson running from a muscle-bound bully is already either exciting or humorous, but seeing the resident minister (Mike Epps) preaching and using religion to justify his need for Kevin's lottery money is disturbing, yet hilarious. Then there's the resident hottie that wouldn't give Kevin the time of day on any other occasion. That is, until she finds out about his good fortune.
Since Kevin can't claim any money until Tuesday, he decides to use the services of a loan shark to have a little fun.
All of this solidifies the theory that with more money comes more problems.
3 buckets
