Gerry is a talented but down-on-his-luck gambler whose fortunes begin to change when he meets Curtis, a younger, highly charismatic poker player. The two strike up an immediate friendship and Gerry quickly persuades his new friend to accompany him on a road trip to a legendary high stakes poker game in New Orleans. As they make their way down the Mississippi River, Gerry and Curtis manage to find themselves in just about every bar, racetrack, casino, and pool hall they can find, experiencing both incredible highs and dispiriting lows, but ultimately forging a deep and genuine bond that will stay with them long after their adventure is over.
_Mississippi Grind tells the story of a down-on-your-luck loser, Gerry, who has lost his money, wife, sobriety and dignity to alcoholism and a poker addiction. Out of a chance, his path crosses that of Curtis, played by Ryan Reynolds, who joins the same poker table at a run-of-the-mill casino in Illinois. They met again, by coincidence, at a local bar, where a friendship starts to form over drinks and stories. It doesn’t take Gerry long to form a conclusion - good things happen around Curtis. Enchanted by his new ‘lucky charm’ friend, and in an act of final desperation, Gerry throws Curtis an absurd proposal; lend him some cash, hit the road, hit the casinos, win a fortune, split it, live happily ever after; and enjoy the ride along the way._