Annette Funicello doesn't dance or sing in this one. She's a working mother of three, with a wonderful hard-working husband (mechanic on a car assembly line), and a live-in mother. Between perms (she's a hair stylist), Julie Maris (Annette's character) drops the kids off at school, chastises her mother for smoking, worries about being able to afford braces for the kids, and plays the lottery. The quick version is that she wins the money, they spend it all, and go back to being broke. No desperation or drugs, just a family working together. They pull together what they've bought and resell it to make sure they have enough to pay taxes (ugh) on what she won. Then comes the fun part! The "Econo Race!" Contestants start at the same spot but get to choose their own route, providing they pass all the checkpoints. First person to make it from here to there on a gallon of gas wins the prize money! Julie gets nominated to drive, with her son at home monitoring her route. Husband and his best friend guard against the two schmoes at work who try to cheat, and Mom and boyfriend keep an eye on the competition. I don't know if I'm making any sense. But if ever a family used its different strengths to achieve a goal, this is the movie that showcases it. It may not have witty dialogue or sparkling sets, but it sure makes the characters seem real (aka worth watching). Character-driven movies - Disney used to be good at that. Watching for this one to come out on DVD, it's worth owning.
Review of Lots of Luck
