JERRYANDMARGE GOLARGE tells uplifting true story of couple who legally cracks lottery, transform small town BYLEAHMARIEANNKLETT tatimewhendark economicallyailingtownandhelptheir check,they’dsharetheirwinningswith contentispervasive grandchildrenandgreat-grandchildren familyandfriends,manyofwhom A acrossHollywood,the payfortheireducations. joinedtheminplayingthelottery. film“JerryandMargeGo Now,nearlyadecadelater,their ThesefriendsincludedSelbee’s Large,”starringBryan storyishittingthebigscreen, accountant,playedbyLarryWilmore, CranstonandAnnetteBening,assures premieringonParamount+onJune17. andaclerkattheconveniencestore audiencesthatthere'sstillgoodinthe InaninterviewwithTheChristian wheretheyboughtthelotterytickets, world—andgenerosityhasfar- Post,Bening,anaward-winning playedbyRainnWilson("TheOffice"). reachingeffects. actress,describedtheSelbeesas Interestingly,theMassachusetts Thefeature-lengthcomedyisbased “fabulous”and“honest”people.Toget StateLotterywasawareofwhatthe onthetruestoryofGeraldSelbee,a intocharacter,sheandCranstongotto Selbeesandtheirfriendsweredoing— residentofthesmalltownofEvart, knowthecouple,whoarenowintheir yetdidn’tfindtheiractions Michigan,whofiguredoutawayto 80s. problematic. legallyhackthe “Theyhada lottery. lotoffun,” “I just love that about doing the film; that it's really about Theyearwas Beningsaid. 2003,and “I'msurelike a healthy relationship. Good, honest people who happen Selbee,aretiree, anymarried figuredouta to get on to this thing, and make a lot of money; didn't couple,they've mathematical beenthrougha change them didn't really change their lives and the way loopholeinthe lot.Theyraised since- sixkids,but they live their lives. They're wonderful people.” discontinued theywerea lotterygame teamforsure. Winfall.Alongwithhiswife,Marjorie, “Itwasenjoyabletoplayahappily Andyouknow,theybothhaveareal familyandfriends,Selbeewouldgoon marriedcouple,”shesaid.“Andthefact twinkleforeachother.It'sverysweet.” towinnearly$27millionoveranine- thatJerryfiguredouttheflawinthe “Ijustlovethataboutdoingthefilm; yearperiod. lottery,it'simportanttoremember thatit'sreallyaboutahealthy Butinsteadofinvestingthemoney that;thattheydidn'tcheat.Itwasn't relationship,”sheadded.“Good,honest inexpensivecars,boatsorother liketheyhadascamgoing,theyfigured peoplewhohappentogetontothis materialgoods,theSelbees,high outaflaw.” thing,andmakealotofmoney;didn't schoolsweetheartsandparentsofsix, TheSelbeeswoulddrivefrom changethemdidn'treallychangetheir remainedinthesamemodesthome MichigantoMassachusetseverythree livesandthewaytheylivetheirlives. andusedtheirwinningstogivebackto weeks,buyingticketsandcounting They'rewonderfulpeople.” theircommunity,revivetheir themtogether.Oncethey’dreceivea “JerryandMargeGoLarge”also 44 VOLIII AUG2022