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Good Luck Chuck
View on Wikipedia| Good Luck Chuck | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Mark Helfrich |
| Written by | Josh Stolberg |
| Produced by | Mike Karz |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Anthony B. Richmond |
| Edited by | Julia Wong |
| Music by | Aaron Zigman |
Production company | Karz Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
Release date |
|
Running time | 99 minutes 101 minutes (unrated cut) |
| Countries | United States[1] Canada[1] |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $25 million[2] |
| Box office | $59.8 million[3] |
Good Luck Chuck is a 2007 romantic comedy film directed by Mark Helfrich, written by Josh Stolberg, and starring Dane Cook and Jessica Alba. In the film, women find their "one true love" after having sex with a dentist named Chuck (Cook). Chuck meets a girl named Cam (Alba) and tries to become her true love.
Good Luck Chuck was the directorial debut of Helfrich, a long-time film editor. It was released in theaters on September 21, 2007, by Lionsgate, and was panned by critics. Despite this, it grossed $59.8 million against a $25 million budget. One of its theatrical posters parodied the well-known Rolling Stone cover photographed by Annie Leibovitz featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono in similar poses.
Plot
[edit]While playing spin the bottle / seven minutes in heaven at a party in 1985, 10-year-old Charlie "Chuck" Logan refuses the sexual advances of a goth girl named Anisha Carpenter. In retaliation, she places a hex on him, saying that once a girl has been with him, "to the next, she will be true".
At present, Chuck is a successful dentist, running a practice in the office opposite his best friend Stu's plastic surgery business. While being sexually intimate with his girlfriend Carol, Chuck cannot reply that he loves her too, prompting her to immediately break up with him.
Stu and Chuck attend the wedding of one of Chuck's ex-girlfriends, Katie. During the reception, she toasts Chuck for being her lucky charm, which gains the interest of his female tablemates. He becomes enamored with Cam Wexler, an unusually clumsy, yet attractive and friendly penguin scientist working at a marine mammal park.
The next day, Chuck's office is full of women. He asks Stu if anything's different about him; they also find that Carol is engaged thanks to Chuck being a lucky charm. His date that evening wants to have sex with him because of the charm, but he gets an emergency call from Cam, who chipped her tooth in a work accident at the penguin exhibit.
Chuck fixes her tooth, but instead of accepting monetary payment, he asks her out for dinner, but Cam declines as she is not emotionally ready. He returns home to find his receptionist Reba coming onto him hoping he will be her lucky charm.
Stu encourages Chuck to indulge in more "guilt-free sex", and he does so. However, he still has feelings for Cam and asks her out. Their relationship deepens, but when Stu calls him and tells him that every single woman Chuck had slept with has gotten married, Chuck gets cold feet and leaves.
Stu and Chuck test the curse on the ugly, morbidly obese Eleanor. Observing that she is not seeing anyone, Chuck has sex with her and then makes Stu ask her out. Meanwhile, Chuck pretends to be sick, so maintains a distant relationship with Cam by phone and computer video. After Stu confirms he did it, yet Eleanor hasn't fallen for him, Chuck rushes to Cam's place and they have sex.
The next morning, when Chuck sees Eleanor on TV happily kissing another man, he angrily calls Stu, who admits he only pretended to ask her out. Worried that Cam will now find her true love, he smothers her in increasingly annoying ways, until she eventually dumps him.
While talking with Reba, Chuck sees a bottle spinning on the ground, which reminds him of the hex from his childhood. So, he and Stu locate Anisha's home. Chuck asks Anisha to remove the curse, but she insists that it is not truly real and that her love back then was just a childhood crush. Anisha encourages him to let go of the girl he is interested in if he truly loves her.
Chuck arranges for Cam to meet Howard Blaine, the penguin expert and author she admires. Later, Stu and his new three-breasted fiancée Lara tell him that Cam is heading to Antarctica with Howard. Chuck catches her on the plane and pleads with her not to go, but Cam explains that she will be back on Wednesday and is going with both Howard and his wife.
Chuck leaves Cam with a ring box with a pebble, a reference to a previous discussion about what penguins do to court a lifetime mate. She calls him back and they kiss. Meanwhile, Anisha pulls out her old childhood occult keepsake box, and removes a pin from the voodoo doll of Chuck. A year later, Chuck and Cam are in Antarctica together looking at the southern lights while surrounded by penguins.
During the closing credits, the housesitting Stu and Lara find a sex tape involving Chuck, Cam, and a stuffed penguin.
Cast
[edit]- Dane Cook as Dr. Charlie "Chuck" Logan
- Connor Price as Young Charlie
- Jessica Alba as Camilla "Cam" Wexler
- Dan Fogler as Dr. Stuart "Stu" Klaminsky
- Troy Gentile as Young Stu
- Ellia English as Reba
- Sasha Pieterse as Young Anisha Carpenter (credited as Goth Girl)
- Michelle Harrison as Anisha Carpenter
- Lonny Ross as Joe Wexler, Cam's stoner brother who works with her at the marine mammal park
- Chelan Simmons as Carol
Production
[edit]Good Luck Chuck was filmed from late September to mid-November 2006. The film was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, and also partly in Edmonton, Alberta, using the Alberta Film Studio for the aquarium scenes and the neighborhood of Old Strathcona for exterior shots.[4]
Soundtrack
[edit]The soundtrack was released on 18 September 2007.
- "I Was Zapped by the Lucky Super Rainbow" (Flaming Lips)
- "Accident Prone" (The Honorary Title)
- "Good Luck Chuck" (The Dandy Warhols)
- "Love It When You Call" – Cherrytree House Version (The Feeling)
- "Good Weekend" (Art Brut)
- "Hurry Up Let's Go" (Shout Out Louds)
- "Shut Me Out" (Aidan Hawken) – 2:49
- "You're Gonna Get It" (Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings)
- "The Whistle Song" (Pepper)
- "You Might Think" (The Cars)
- "Physical" (Olivia Newton-John)
- "Bela Lugosi's Dead" (Bauhaus)
- "Crazy in Love" (Antique Gold)
Reception
[edit]Good Luck Chuck was panned by critics. According to Rotten Tomatoes, only 5% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 114 reviews. The site's consensus states: "A shortage of laughs and an undercurrent of mean-spiritedness undermine Good Luck Chuck, squandering a decent premise on gross-out humor and shopworn slapstick."[5] On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 19 out of 100, based on 23 reviews, indicating "overwhelming dislike".[6]
Roger Ebert awarded the film 1 out of 4 stars, branding it "potty-mouthed and brain-damaged", whilst his reviewing partner, Richard Roeper also rated it poorly.[7][8]
British film critic Mark Kermode named it the worst film of 2007.[9]
Box office
[edit]The film was the second-highest-grossing film at the U.S. box office in its opening weekend, grossing $13.6 million in 2,612 theaters.[3][10] The film went on to have a total box office tally of approximately $35 million U.S. and $24 million foreign.
Accolades
[edit]The film earned two Razzie Award nominations including Worst Actress (Jessica Alba) and Worst Screen Couple (Alba and Dane Cook), but lost to Lindsay Lohan for I Know Who Killed Me.[11]
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Raspberry Awards[11] | Worst Actress | Jessica Alba | Nominated |
| Worst Screen Combo | Jessica Alba and Dane Cook |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Good Luck Chuck". British Film Institute. 2007. Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ "Good Luck Chuck Box Office Data". The Numbers. Nash Information Services. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
- ^ a b "Good Luck Chuck (2007) – Weekend Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ^ "Film Alberta Studios". Archived from the original on 2015-02-24. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
- ^ "Good Luck Chuck". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ "Good Luck Chuck (2007): Reviews". Metacritic. CBS. Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ Roger Ebert (20 September 2007). "Good Luck Chuck". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
- ^ "Snarky Snippets From 2007 Movie Reviews". The Washington Post. December 29, 2007. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ "Best and Worst of 2007 Kermode". YouTube. September 2010. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "'Resident Evil' proves zombies rule box office". Associated Press via Today.com. 23 September 2007. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
- ^ a b "Golden Raspberry Award Foundation". www.razzies.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
External links
[edit]Good Luck Chuck
View on GrokipediaSynopsis and Cast
Plot
In 1985, ten-year-old Charlie Logan is at a birthday party playing "Seven Minutes in Heaven," where he is paired in a closet with a goth girl named Anisha. Refusing to kiss her, Charlie humiliates her, prompting Anisha to curse him in retaliation: any woman who sleeps with him will immediately find her true love with the very next man she encounters.[6][7] Twenty years later, adult Charlie (Dane Cook), now a successful dentist, has resigned himself to a life of fleeting romantic encounters, exploiting the curse for casual hookups that inevitably end with his partners moving on to their soulmates—and often inviting him to their weddings as a "good luck charm." His best friend, Stu (Dan Fogler), revels in this setup, scheming to maximize Charlie's exploits, such as suggesting risky escapades. Charlie's routine changes when he treats Cam Wexler (Jessica Alba), a clumsy, free-spirited penguin trainer at a local aquarium who chips her tooth after slipping in the penguin exhibit. Despite Cam's reluctance to commit, the two hit it off and begin dating, though their budding romance is plagued by comedic obstacles: Cam's accident-prone nature leads to mishaps like her breaking her arm during a romantic getaway, and a disastrous visit to the penguin exhibit where Charlie falls into the enclosure and is bitten in the groin by an aggressive bird.[3][5][8] Desperate to consummate their relationship and "activate" the curse before Cam falls for someone else, Charlie repeatedly tries to sleep with her, but interruptions abound—including Stu's meddling interventions and Cam's oblivious exes resurfacing with jealous advances. As Charlie attends yet another wedding of a former flame, he realizes his genuine feelings for Cam run deeper than convenience. In a bid to ensure her happiness, he reluctantly sets her up with Dr. Wessler, a renowned penguin expert she idolizes, leading Cam to accept a research trip to Antarctica. However, Charlie races to the airport to confess his love just as she boards, prompting Cam to abandon the trip and affirm her mutual affection. With true love solidified between them, the curse finally breaks, allowing Charlie and Cam to build a lasting relationship free from its effects.[9][3][7]Cast
The principal cast of Good Luck Chuck features comedian Dane Cook in the lead role alongside Jessica Alba, supported by a mix of comedic and character actors who portray the film's ensemble of friends, family, and romantic interests.[10][11]| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dane Cook | Dr. Charlie Logan | A dentist dealing with an unusual romantic curse that affects his relationships.[12][10] |
| Jessica Alba | Cam Wexler | An adventurous yet accident-prone animal handler who works with penguins.[12][11] |
| Dan Fogler | Dr. Stu Klaminsky | Charlie's crude and loyal best friend, a plastic surgeon specializing in breast augmentation who provides comic relief and support.[12][10] |
| Ellia English | Reba | Stu's no-nonsense wife, adding grounded humor to the central friendships.[12][11] |
| Lonny Ross | Joe | Cam's brother, involved in her personal life and adventures.[12][10] |
| Michelle Harrison | Anisha | The receptionist at Charlie's dental practice, handling daily office interactions.[12][13] |
| Chelan Simmons | Carol | One of Charlie's ex-girlfriends, representing his past romantic encounters.[12][10] |
| Steve Bacic | Howard Logan | Charlie's father, offering familial perspective in key family scenes.[12][11] |
Production
Development
The screenplay for Good Luck Chuck was written by Josh Stolberg, based on a short story by Steve Glenn. Stolberg developed it as a spec script, which sold to Lionsgate in 2003 after attracting interest in a competitive bidding environment.[15][16] The project initially entered development at New Line Cinema, where the studio acquired the script. However, New Line later relinquished distribution rights to Lionsgate shortly before production commenced, allowing the latter to take over as the primary studio.[17] In 2004, Mark Helfrich was attached to direct, marking his feature film directorial debut after a career as an editor on comedies including Rush Hour 2 (2001) and The Longest Yard (2005). Producer Mike Karz, through his Karz Entertainment banner, handled key creative oversight, setting the production budget at $25 million to support a raunchy romantic comedy tone inspired by contemporary hits like The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005).[18][19][20] Dane Cook was cast in the lead role early in development, drawn to the script's premise of a dentist under a "reverse curse" that turns his ex-girlfriends into brides for their next partners, leveraging his stand-up comedy fame from albums like Harmful If Swallowed (2003) and Retaliation (2005). Pre-production ramped up in 2006, focusing on comedic casting to emphasize the film's blend of slapstick humor and romantic elements centered on the curse's mechanics.[21][22]Filming
Principal photography for Good Luck Chuck took place from late September to mid-November 2006, primarily in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with additional filming in Edmonton, Alberta, at the Alberta Film Studios for certain aquarium interiors.[23] Key locations included the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park for scenes involving penguin habitats, where animal trainers positioned the birds and monitored their welfare to prevent stress or injury during takes.[24] Other notable sites were Cecil Green Park House at the University of British Columbia for simulated wedding sequences and various Vancouver-area stands for dental office exteriors and interiors, which were constructed on soundstages to replicate Charlie Logan's workplace.[25] The film's cinematography was handled by Anthony B. Richmond, who employed practical lighting and handheld techniques to capture the comedic energy of the physical stunts, such as Cam Wexler's mishaps, using on-set rigs and minimal digital augmentation for authenticity.[26] Challenges arose with the penguin actors, requiring multiple short takes to accommodate their natural behaviors while adhering to animal safety protocols certified by the American Humane Association; no incidents were reported.[24] Explicit scenes posed logistical hurdles, including the use of body doubles for nudity and closed sets to ensure performer comfort.[27] Director Mark Helfrich encouraged an improvisational style on set, allowing Dane Cook and Dan Fogler to ad-lib dialogue in curse-related sequences for better comedic timing, which necessitated minor reshoots to refine pacing without altering the core narrative.[28] Filming schedules were adjusted around Jessica Alba's concurrent commitments, condensing her scenes into intensive blocks in Vancouver to align with her availability.[27] Cook's involvement in physical comedy bits, like pratfalls and chases, relied on practical effects teams for safe execution, emphasizing rehearsal to avoid injuries during the fast-paced shoot.Release
Marketing and Promotion
Lionsgate's marketing campaign for Good Luck Chuck centered on capitalizing on Dane Cook's established fanbase among young adults and the film's high-concept curse premise, which positioned the protagonist as an unwitting matchmaker through romantic encounters. Under co-president of theatrical marketing Tim Palen, the strategy shifted emphasis from the romantic elements to the movie's physical comedy and pratfalls, aiming to differentiate it in a crowded comedy landscape despite early critical dismissal.[29][30] Trailers played a key role, with standard versions teasing the curse gimmick and Cook's everyman appeal, while red-band editions amplified the raunchy humor to appeal directly to mature audiences seeking irreverent laughs.[31][32] Posters prominently displayed Cook and Jessica Alba in playful poses, accompanied by taglines like "There's something funny about Dane" to underscore the star-driven comedy.[33] The film held its world premiere on September 19, 2007, at the Mann National Theatre in Los Angeles, drawing celebrities and media attention to build pre-release hype.[34][35] Promotion also leaned into the film's controversial explicit content, particularly the outtakes featuring a stuffed penguin in a simulated sexual act during the credits, which generated buzz and informed adult-oriented ad placements across TV and online platforms.[36][37]Theatrical Release
Good Luck Chuck was released theatrically in the United States on September 21, 2007, by Lionsgate Films, marking its wide debut on 2,612 screens.[4] The film had a runtime of 99 minutes and received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America for sequences of strong sexual content, nudity, language, and some drug use, reflecting the explicit nature of its scenes.[5] The theatrical rollout faced competition from new releases like Resident Evil: Extinction and holdover films including The Brave One.[38] Internationally, the film began its distribution in October 2007, with openings in Australia on October 25 and Russia on October 11, followed by the United Kingdom on November 9.[39] Canada, as a co-producing country, shared the U.S. release date of September 21.[40] Promotional trailers contributed to pre-release buzz by highlighting the film's comedic premise and star pairing.[5]Home Media
The home video release of Good Luck Chuck began with Lionsgate Home Entertainment issuing the film on DVD and Blu-ray on January 15, 2008, in both rated and unrated editions.[41] The standard widescreen DVD featured an audio commentary track with director Mark Helfrich, star Dane Cook, producer Mike Karz, and writer Josh Stolberg, alongside behind-the-scenes featurettes such as "Good Luck Chuckles," "Real Life Chuck," and "Polymastia," as well as deleted and alternate scenes.[42] The unrated version extended the runtime to 101 minutes with additional explicit content, including reshoot scenes for certain intimate sequences, and incorporated a gag reel highlighting on-set bloopers.[43] These extras emphasized the film's comedic production process, with the commentary praised for its energetic discussions on improvisations and cast dynamics.[44] The Blu-ray debut, titled the "Chucked Up Edition," launched simultaneously with the DVD and mirrored its special features, including the gag reel and featurettes, while offering enhanced 1080p video quality in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio.[45] Digital distribution followed, with the film becoming available for purchase and rental on platforms like iTunes in the late 2000s, and streaming on Netflix throughout the 2010s.[46] By 2025, Good Luck Chuck remains accessible on major services such as Hulu for subscription viewing and Prime Video, Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Vudu for rent or purchase, reflecting sustained demand for its rom-com appeal.[47][48] DVD sales played a key role in the film's post-theatrical profitability, with 1,484,670 units sold in the United States during 2008 alone, generating approximately $25.75 million in revenue and topping charts in its debut week with over 587,000 units.[49] This strong home media performance, bolstered by the film's moderate box office earnings, helped Lionsgate recoup its $25 million budget and establish Good Luck Chuck as a viable title for ongoing digital re-releases.[41]Music
Soundtrack
The soundtrack album for Good Luck Chuck, titled Good Luck Chuck: Motion Picture Soundtrack, was released on September 18, 2007, by Lakeshore Records.[50] It comprises 14 tracks, primarily licensed pop, rock, and indie songs curated to underscore the film's comedic and romantic sequences, including both contemporary hits and select new recordings from established artists.[51] The selection draws inspiration from upbeat 1980s-style compilations, emphasizing energetic and playful tunes to align with the movie's tone.[51] Songs were chosen post-filming during the editing process to enhance scene pacing and mood, with contributions from artists like The Flaming Lips and The Dandy Warhols providing exclusive material tailored to the narrative.[52] No songs were originally composed solely for the film beyond these targeted recordings; the album focuses on pre-existing catalog tracks adapted for comedic effect.[53] These selections briefly amplify humorous moments through ironic or lively rhythms, without dominating the dialogue-driven humor.[52] Key tracks and their usages in the film include:- "Do You Want To" by Franz Ferdinand: Plays during the scene where Chuck drives Cam to collect her extra set of keys.[54]
- "I Want You" by Savage Garden: Featured in the montage showing the curse's effect with multiple women in Chuck's bed.[54]
- "Waking Up in Vegas" by Katy Perry: Plays during an intimate scene where Chuck and Cam kiss on the couch near candles.[54]
- "The Way I Are" by Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E.: Plays during the scene where Chuck pretends to be ill and chats with Cam online.[54]
- "Good Luck Chuck" by The Dandy Warhols: The title track, written specifically for the film, used in the sex montage midway through.[51][52]
| Track | Artist | Song Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Flaming Lips | I Was Zapped by the Lucky Super Rainbow |
| 2 | The Honorary Title | Accident Prone |
| 3 | The Dandy Warhols | Good Luck Chuck |
| 4 | The Feeling | Love It When You Call (Cherrytree House Version) |
| 5 | Art Brut | Good Weekend |
| 6 | Shout Out Louds | Hurry Up Let's Go |
| 7 | Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. | The Way I Are |
| 8 | The Honorary Title | Along the Way |
| 9 | Cat Power | Could We |
| 10 | T. Rex | Bang a Gong (Get It On) |
| 11 | Franz Ferdinand | Do You Want To |
| 12 | Katy Perry | Waking Up in Vegas |
| 13 | Savage Garden | I Want You |
| 14 | The Kills | Love Is a Stranger |
