# Jerry & Marge Go Large

Jerry & Marge Go Large is a 2022 American comedy-drama film directed by David Frankel and written by Brad Copeland. Based on Jason Fagone's 2018 HuffPost article of the same name, the film, which is based on a true story, stars Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening.
The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 15, 2022, and was released on Paramount+ on June 17, 2022.

## Plot

Jerry and Marge Selbee, a retired couple from the small town of Evart, Michigan, discover a statistical loophole in the WinFall lottery that allows them to almost guarantee a win during rolldown weeks (when there was no grand prize winner for long enough that, instead of the jackpot growing further, it was distributed to the next tier of winners).
They start small but quickly go all-in, emptying their savings to invest in the lottery, which pays off handsomely. Excited by their success, the Selbees share their secret with friends and neighbors, creating GS Investment Strategies. This reinvigorates the town, as old businesses reopen and the local Jazz Fest venue is restored using the lottery winnings.
Their success attracts the attention of a group of Harvard students who also discover the loophole. The students, led by Tyler, confront the Selbees, arrogantly suggesting they combine forces, but the Selbees refuse, standing firm in their methods and morals.
Tensions rise, and Tyler threatens Jerry, demanding he stop playing WinFall. Jerry almost gives in, but the support of his son and the community strengthens his resolve.
In a final confrontation, Jerry exposes Tyler's selfish tactics. Ultimately, the Massachusetts Lottery, pressured by growing media attention, shuts down WinFall, ending the Selbees' lottery journey. Despite this, Jerry and Marge return to Evart as heroes, as their adventure not only brings wealth but also revives the spirit of their small town.

## Cast

* Bryan Cranston as Jerry Selbee
* Annette Bening as Marge Selbee
* Rainn Wilson as Bill
* Larry Wilmore as Steve
* Michael McKean as Howard
* Ann Harada as Shirley
* Jake McDorman as Doug Selbee
* Anna Camp as Dawn Selbee
* Devyn McDowell as Liz
* Uly Schlesinger as Tyler Langford
* Cheech Manohar as Eric
* Tracie Thoms as Maya
* Lindsay Rootare as Mindy
* Tori Kelly as herself

## Production

In April 2018, it was reported that Levantine Films and Netter Films would produce a film adaptation of Jason Fagone's HuffPost article "Jerry and Marge Go Large", with Brad Copeland writing the screenplay. In June 2021, it was announced that Paramount+ had greenlit the film, set to be directed by David Frankel and star Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening.
Filming began in July 2021 in Georgia, with Rainn Wilson, Larry Wilmore and Jake McDorman joining the cast. In August 2021, Uly Schlesinger, Michael McKean, Anna Camp, Ann Harada, and Devyn McDowell joined the cast.

## Release

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 15, 2022. It was released on Paramount+ on June 17, 2022.

## Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 68% of 56 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "Instead of investing in its tremendously talented stars and outlandish fact-based story, Jerry & Marge Go Large gambles on a pile of clichés." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 52 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.