recommended

Don't listen to the negative reviews

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Katlin Palmerston (Elisha Cuthbert) is a math-whiz high school student from a middle class home. She starts gambling to save up for an European trip with best friend Cheryl. She takes money from the girls at poker and the boys with football. She even sets up her own betting pool. With a run of bad luck and bad bets, she is in deep trouble. Popular girl Janice's sketchy brother Ron Lunderman sets up a poker game. Katlin wins big and starts dating Ron. The computer gambling continues and everything spirals out of control. She borrows from the wrong couple and they have a creepy way to settle the debt. Her mother (Sherry Miller) rides to the rescue.This is very much a lesson-filled movie of the week. It's basic and overtly dramatic. There is an inevitability to the plot. Elisha Cuthbert is what shines in this movie. She shows her beauty and her charisma. She's also young enough and pretty close to the 17 year old character. It helps to make it more real and visceral. The last act is quite creepy and unforgettable. It would help to have more original twists but this is strictly a "very special episode" of whatever teen soap.

If this is Canada's equivalent of a Lifetime movie......then the USA is in big trouble.You have to see this one to believe it, and love it - possibly the best good girl gone bad flick I have seen since Showgirls. Yes, it is just that cheesy.As for the acting, it's all good, believable, maybe a bit too much so for American viewers used to seeing Valerie Bertinelli or Jaclyn Smith heaving heavy remorseful sighs for their sins and/or more likely role decisions, but a hell of a lot better than that McCleod's Brood crap or made for Lifetime garbage that is shown daily on those wimmin's pics channels of late.And above all, this one has something no other movie of this genre has had now or since, so don't read on if you don't want the best part spoiled! SPOILER coming! Mom beats up the bad guy - You got to love it.

I happened to watch this TV movie when I surfed my cable TV and I saw Elisha Cuthbert starred the screen.As I recognized her from Popular Mechanics series,I decided to watch the movie.It was one of the righteous moves I had ever made in term of watching movies.The quality surpasses some of the dramas produced in Tinseltown.The plot is though simple,but the mood and feel will haunt you right into your mind.Being a girl who was addicted to gambling and gone spiraling downwards,Elisha has proved to me that she is a great actress and worth to be given credits.The supporting casts are just amazing and credible,it seems that they lived just next door of your home for some reason.The ending is just captivating in my opinion,it is just.Sadly,I have only seen it once and would like to have a copy of the movie.A haunting movie that was beautifully made.Being in my list of THE movie to watch before you die.Two words,brilliant,wonderful 10.5/10

First of all, let me just say that if you are a fan of Elisha Cuthbert, like I am, then "Lucky Girl" is a must-see movie. Although I have not seen a whole lot of her work ("Mail to the Chief" and "24") I cannot imagine it getting any better than this. However, even if this movie had not been blessed with her presence, it would still be a very fine piece of work. Because it is a Canadian made-for-tv movie, I did not expect anything special, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is very well put together and the acting is top-notch. Cuthbert won the 2001 Gemini (Canadian television awards) for best actress in a dramatic program or mini-series and Sherry Miller, who plays her mother, won the Gemini for best supporting actress. The movie premiered in Canada on 4/8/01 on CTV and 'lucky' for those of us in the US, it was picked up by Lifetime, who changed the title to "My Daughter's Secret Life." But whatever it is called, do yourself a favor and see this movie.