There is a lot of talented people involved with the making of the gambling dramedy, “Lay the Favorite,” rendering the non-committal attitude of the piece rather perplexing. Despite a swirling atmosphere of degenerates and jealousy, the material doesn’t spark to life, finding director Stephen Frears strangely powerless when it comes to infusing the work with resonance and, in some cases, genuine laughs. Perhaps those already hip-deep in the world of sports betting might be able to suck out the juices of experience that gift the movie its most authentic moments, though even that level of appreciation seems like a long shot, with much of “Lay the Favorite” sluggishly trying to make sense of a story it doesn’t appear to believe in. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com