The Lucky Ones (2008)

That was an excellent one.

Sorry, this movie sucks

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Written and directed by Neil Burger, "The Lucky Ones" tells the story of three United States Army soldiers who return from the 2003 US invasion of Iraq to embark on an unplanned road trip across the United States. The film is a fairly faithful update of William Wyler's "The Best Years of Our Lives" and Hal Ashby's "The Last Detail", though Burger claims never to have seen the former film.Like Wyler's film, which was also ironically titled, "The Lucky Ones" centres on three servicemen of different social strata, rank and age. There's Sgt Cheaver (Tim Robbins), who's wrestling with a divorce and financial problems, Pvt Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams), who's struggling to cope with a wounded leg, poverty and isolation, and Sgt Poole (Michael Pena), whose sex organs have been severely damaged by a piece of shrapnel.There's a lot of good stuff in the film. Burger's direction is gentle, easygoing and relaxed, our trio of characters are both likable and pleasantly low-key, the gang's road trip is immensely fun and the film features a number of fine conversations. Unfortunately "The Lucky Ones" also contains a number of absolutely god-awful scenes which totally kill the picture. Such heavy handed atrocities – scenes which would embarrass most writers - include a sudden marital break-up, an out-of-nowhere argument over a locked car, a ridiculous car crash and a LITERAL TORNADO ATTACK. Half this movie is a masterpiece of low key observation, the other half is an embarrassment. What's going on?Still, mentally filter out these terrible moments and the film has a lot to recommend. Burger positions us to sympathise with these soldiers, shows how the army exploits minorities and the marginalised, how each of these characters has absolutely no place to go, no one to take them in but the Armed Forces, how the military engenders dependency, how enlistees treat income and institutional connection as a bigger priority than the larger ethical and political ramifications of War, how the Army neuters ideological conflict (within its staff), how civilians (on either end of the political spectrum) condescendingly treat soldiers, how the military experience is completely divorced from the every-day reality of most Americans, how soldiers oft return home to a kind of soft segregation, how the soldiering class is almost a class unto itself, often unable to mingle comfortably with others, how the army compensates for weak egos and becomes an almost cultic figure for the disenfranchised etc etc. This is an unusually perceptive film. But a frustrating one too, because for every good sequence there's an abomination which makes you want to gouge your eyes out.7.9/10 – Frustrating.

See this film."The Lucky Ones" (2008) is a true hidden gem. I wasn't expecting much when I put the DVD in my player but before too long I knew I had stumbled on to something great.THE PLOT: Three soldiers coming back from Iraq meet at JFK in NY where all flights are delayed due to a blackout. One soldier is older and getting out of the Army for good (Timothy Robbins), one has a serious groin injury and is trying to heal-up (Michael Pena) and the other is on leave to visit the family of a dead comrade (Rachel McAdams). They end up in a rental vehicle traveling across the country where they experience many sides of American culture and each other's deepest secrets, hopes and pains.All three stars have great chemistry and Rachel McAdams (who I've never seen in a movie before) is a total revelation as Colee. Although Colee isn't highly educated she's not dumb. In fact, she excels socially and is the catalyst to hope and healing for the other two. A more beautiful, spunky, stimulating woman could hardly be found! Both Timothy Robbins as Cheaver and Michael Pena as TK shine in their roles as well. Cheaver becomes the necessary father-figure in the trio and the others become increasingly concerned about the well-being of their temporary "dad." The film features a good balance of Eastern and Western locations, shot in Illinois, Missouri, Colorado and Las Vegas.FINAL WORD: I don't want to say anymore. If what I said perks your interest, be sure to check out "The Lucky Ones." RUNTIME: 115 minutesGRADE: A

While there have been many movies about 'soldiers picking up the pieces after returning home from war', Neil Burger's story takes a refreshing look with a touch of humour, sarcasm and compassion. Three soldiers, Fred (Tim Robbins), Colee (Rachel McAdams) and T.K (Michael Peña) cross paths as they are on their way back from a German hospital to the states. Fred looks forward to reuniting with his wife and son, Colee plans to return her dead boyfriend's guitar to his parents and T.K. claims to have a fiancée waiting. As they reach the states, their connecting flights get cancelled and together, the three embark on a roadtrip that will change their lives.Most successful road movies require characters that are interesting and the road-trip in the film is usually a metaphor for the characters' journey from one situation to another, a growth of sorts. Otherwise it's pretty much like watching a travel documentary. While Burger beautifully captures the American landscape, it is his three principle characters who keep the viewer involved with their wit, charm, compassion, and even recklessness. As they move ahead on their trip, each heading towards a different destination, a wonderful friendship develops and here the trip is a metaphor of the characters reaching a place of self awareness. Saying more would be giving away the story.With fine cinematography, good scoring and editing and decent special effects, 'The Lucky Ones' is well executed. The odd, but very likable casting of Tim Robbins, Michael Peña and Rachel McAdams is terrific. The three are very convincing on screen as three unlikely people who become friends. Peña displays a subtle intensity that is well complemented by McAdams's subtle humour. Despite all the hardship, Colee remains optimistic but tough. Robbins does an excellent job as Fred who comes home only to find that his expectations have been shattered and while he is desperate to raise money for his son, he is breaking on the inside but his new friends provide just the kind of comfort and confidence he needs.There are a few minor quibbles. I found the tornado sequence to be forced and it just suddenly appears out of nowhere to solve one of the character's problems. While the ending was predictable, it wasn't a bad ending but I would have preferred an alternative conclusion.Overall, 'The Lucky Ones' is a splendid film that is a good balance of intensity and humour. These three characters involve us through their adventurous journey that is an enjoyable ride all the way.

I had tickets for this at the Toronto International Film Festival last summer but was side-tracked by an obscure little film called Slumdog Millionaire instead, so only got around to watching it last night on pay-per-view. In a strange way, the two films have a good deal in common. In an era in which everyone seems to want either tense thrillers, puerile comedies or awesome special effects (the only one here, as has been pointed out, is a cheaply put together tornado), both movies offer little more than a thoroughly improbable plot and a focus on character development. But both work remarkably well. I am puzzled by those who found that the movie dragged. While most of the plot development was telegraphed not once but several times, the acting from all three leads was both believable and very deft. At first I thought that Rachel McAdams' character was simply too naive to be true but it soon became apparent that she was much wiser than we (or even she) knew. She plays it beautifully. Tim Robbins is wonderful too, and rather pathetic, in a down-to-earth role as an aging war veteran, happy to have survived and soon to be confronted with some harsh realities. But Michael Pena was the real surprise. He is completely captivating in his portrayal of a proud young vet from a military family on his way to meet his girlfriend, with his masculinity compromised by a war injury. His character is the most subtly poignant as he confronts his own fears about his manhood, on several levels.Like all movies based on the Iraqi war, this seems to suffer from America's desire to ignore the war altogether, just as they ignored the Vietnam veterans a generation ago (Coming Home, The Deer Hunter). America seems to be much less willing to address its failures now than it was then, or even the lesser failures in the wake of World War II.