This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

We recently had the opportunity to spend an entire hour talking to Richard Dreyfus! Richard was surprised that this is our favorite Richard Dreyfus movie. Not Jaws, Goodbye Girl, Close Encounters, But Let it Ride. We left that chance meeting saying, "I'm having a great day." The film is all about characters and what a bunch of characters. If you break down the movie, a loser becomes a winner and has a great day at the track winning race after race. Snoozers! But what a cast of crazies that make every minute either hilarious or at least amusing. Dreyfus was great. David Johansen is exactly the kind of loser that hangs out at the track or a casino. Poor Terry Garr always playing the suffering wife (See Close Encounters and Oh God.). She plays the long suffering wife. Again! Lots of funny people in small parts. It was shocking that so many of the professional critics dissed this very funny comedy. One idiot goes off on cinematography and editing. The test of a good comedy is: "Is it funny?" The answer is yes. The other key to great comedy is "Does it speak the truth?" Again, yes. I grew up in Las Vegas, worked in Casinos for 6 years. I met everyone of these characters. The sad fact is that Yes Jay Trotter won a fortune, but he'll be back and eventually lose it all back. But see the movie, You'll have a great day.

Jay Trotter is a cab driver who has a slight problem with gambling.Instead of reconciling his failing marriage as planned, he instead goes to the track, and mystically, it seems as though he can't lose, no matter how much he bets, and has an incredible day, in more ways than one....The surprising thing about this movie is that there isn't any twist to the movie. That's the twist if you would. Any other film would have our hero lose everything, or lose almost everything and win something back. But not here.He just keeps winning and winning, and it sounds like its a boring narrative, but it's what happens between races that make the film so watchable.It's a farce basically. Trotter thinks he his having the best day of his life, but in reality, his world is falling apart around him, and it's this tenseness to the story that makes you think 'once a loser, always a loser'.Ironically you would bet good money on Trotter losing everything come the end, but then gambling is a bit of a mugs game.Dreyfuss is wonderful, full of energy and zest throughout his hectic day,and the support are equally wonderful, and somewhat bizarre.It's a bit of a forgotten movie, but it's a lot of fun.

This is like the US equivalent of one of those Olde English Ealing comedies; lots of great supporting cast, some LOL setpieces that are beautifully integrated, gentle social comment and a plot that everybody can identify with. The racetrack setting is reminiscent of the genre, too. Teri Garr is especially good as the long suffering gambler's wife, and Robbie Coltrane enjoys himself as the window clerk, (funny, but his stock American accent slips a lot!). I wouldn't call it a classic for the reason that the plot makes it all too easy for Trotter. While you do share the excitement as the horses race, you never really get the feeling that Trotter's fate is in jeopardy, or that there is much sense of crisis - Teri Garr threatens divorce but immediately takes it back, the villains are nothing but cream puffs, everybody thinks Trotter's a hero. They even make it clear before the last race: "I'm covered - you can't put a price on a day like that", so the ultimate outcome is slightly irrelevant. It's also too easy for him to break his promise to stop gambling at the beginning; he doesn't feel guilty, he doesn't worry about it, his confidence is never shaken. It's not clear whether his 'good' day is a reward for being honest, his luck just 'happens'. This takes the film into the realm of fantasy wish-fulfilment, as though it was a sort of chick flick for guys. Nothing wrong with that, because the good humour is sincere enough. It doesn't become trite, anyway. I'd say it was fine for little kids apart from the f-bombs and the dubious message that gamblers win in the end, but it looks like they had fun making it.

I feel like most of the people who commented on this movie. I absolutely love it and have watched it many many times. It is a feel good movie that can lift you up when you feel down. There are so many funny scenes and great lines. My favorites are 1) when the cop is holding the money box in the bar and he claims to have peripheral vision...it's a gift and 2) when Trotter is recanting his day after his last big bet and he says "You can't put a price tag on a day like that". My boyfriend and I use that line after a really good day and laugh peppering it with comments like "paid Looney's tab". Oh my God, it's just the best Jerry, the best!!!