A nosy cab driver gets a hot tip on a race horse and wins big, but he can't seem to stop gambling. Will he go broke or walk home with a pretty penny? An average kind of guy who has a slight problem with gambling goes to the track, and mystically, it seems as though he can't lose, no matter how he bets; and he has an incredible day. What could have been an average at best TV movie is instead a very successful motion picture comedy in large part due to Richard Dreyfuss's performance. Stopping just short of being over-the-top in the very funny comedic scenes, he also creates a three-dimensional character who is warm and touching – you really are rooting for him.<br/><br/>The other thing I really liked about this movie was its willingness to stray from the usual formula: good things happen/conflict something bad happens/resolution. This entire film depicted a happy and lucky protagonist – a great tonic to cure the blues is this underrated gem. This film is a light-hearted comedic gem that received a rather unfair series of reviews by "professionals" who seem to be mostly interested only in content if it fits a cookie cutter slate for "Oscar Worthy". This is no Academy Award Winning movie, but it is entertaining, well done, and all around a joy to watch.<br/><br/>The overall premise about an unlucky fellow turning his luck around while still trying to do right by his wife is touching and delivered in a sincere fashion if not a serious one. While Jay Trotter (Richard Dreyfuss) may seem like a shallow, self-obsessed character it becomes evident through his actions and eventual decision to "Let it Ride" that he has a level of complexity to him. In the end it is a story about the underdog getting his due.<br/><br/>If you haven't seen this film and are on the fence I highly recommend you give it a try. The professional reviews about it are mainly the same dry "It won't win an Oscar" crud that you expect from professional reviewers watching a movie that was not meant for Oscar Candidacy anyway. Take it for what it is: a funny film about a man turning his life around with just a little bit of luck and a lot of perseverance. Let It Ride has atmosphere, plus a good setting, appealing actors - and a bad script. [19 Aug 1989]
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