BuzzSugar

The Lucky Ones: Surprisingly Funny and Cute

BuzzSugar — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:00:38 PDT

It's hard to say bad things about a movie this well-intentioned and sweet. It's a story about Iraq War soldiers that is heartwarming and funny, which is something we haven't seen much in films about the current war. I have no idea why the trailer for The Lucky Ones includes Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You," a song practically engineered to force people to cry, because this movie isn't really sad. I brought tissues and I didn't even use them.

Rachel McAdams is the biggest reason to see this, as her character is so incredibly endearing and McAdams portrays her perfectly. She plays Colee, a young soldier on a 30-day leave from Iraq after a gunshot wound to the leg. Colee is an (extremely) open book, blunt to a fault and full of wide-eyed, childlike naiveté. Tim Robbins is career soldier Cheever who is leaving the Army for good after suffering a back injury. Michael Pena plays TK, a bit of an insufferable know-it-all whose "private parts" are not quite back to normal after being wounded. The three are stranded in New York when they land and discover that all flights have been canceled. There is one rental car available to them at the airport, and thus the three embark on a road trip together. Nothing - seriously, nothing - goes as planned, however, and challenges pop up for these characters faster than a whack-a-mole game. This bombardment of predicaments is both funny and problematic, though, so to find out more,

Each character's storyline includes some kind of obstacle (or obstacles), and over the course of their shared trip a staggering number of new obstacles present themselves. This demands some powerful suspension of disbelief, and at times the plot is like a brainstorming game between friends on their own road trip ("And then all the flights out of New York will be canceled, and then two of them will fight and the old guy's wife wants a divorce but his son needs college money like, right now, so the three head to Vegas, but along the way they stop off at a bar so the girl can get into a fight, and then there's a car crash and - ooh! I know! - a tornado!" and on and on).

Some of these things are totally preposterous (do college loans not exist in this world?), but it's not necessarily a random, rambling course of events. Much of what happens feeds our understanding of each character and many of their conversations are recalled in some way later in the story. Like the words "luck" and "lucky," which they repeat about 20 times in the movie. The occasional triteness aside, it's a rewarding experience to watch this movie, as you can consistently identify references to previous things. All in all, it's a flawed script that's saved by some great performances and a sweet dynamic between these unlikely friends.

Photos courtesy of Roadside Attractions

Rachel Is One of the Lucky Ones, Even Without Ryan

Molly — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:05:00 PDT

Rachel McAdams looked radiant and boho chic at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of The Lucky Ones last night. She arrived solo in the late Summer dusk, but I'd like to think that Mr. Gosling has a little something to do with that big smile of hers. Ever since the amazing photos of them back together kissing at lunch we've been waiting for our next McAdams/Gosling moment, which joins The Time Traveler's Wife on the list of things we're excited to see from Rachel.

To see more from the premiere including lots more Rachel, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Tim Robbins, Neil Burger and others just

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Images include: Rachel McAdams, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Tim Robbins, Neil Burger

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Movie Preview: The Lucky Ones

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:30:23 PDT

"Well of course it is - war is messy. It can't be all perfect!"

Despite the use of one of Sarah McLachlan's sappiest tunes and the three-strangers-thrown-together-on-road-trip shtick, The Lucky Ones looks like a really good movie. The movie stars Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, and Crash's Michael Peña as Iraq War soldiers who return home and end up on a road trip together. What I already like about this movie is the attempt to tackle - through a quirkier lens than usual - a subject that American moviegoers have been reluctant to see thus far.

I really like the montage of people saying thanks to the three upon learning they're soldiers, and the awkwardness that ensues ("Thank you!" "No...thank you."). It seems to perfectly capture - without use of a heavy hand - how strange it must feel to reintegrate into American society after being away at war. Rachel already seems pitch-perfect in this role, and I have a feeling people will be talking a lot about Peña once The Lucky Ones hits theaters on September 26.

To check out the preview for yourself,

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You're Invited – Announcing Our Wedding Pinterest Contest!

TresSugar — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:50:16 PDT

You can come to TrèsSugar for firsthand planning advice, etiquette tips, gorgeous new wedding trends, and much, much more to make your big day beautiful and authentic. Now it's your turn to inspire us! Build out your "Wedding Day Inspiration" Pinterest board and show us what you envision for your big day, from the decor details to the dress. We will then select our favorite board and give one lucky winner the opportunity to take the romantic getaway she's been dreaming of. You won't need to wait for the honeymoon to have a vacation!

To Enter:
1. Follow TrèsSugar on Pinterest
2. Create a Pinterest Board titled "Wedding Day Inspiration"
3. Build out your board with inspiration pinned from TresSugar.com (minimum 15 pins, please)
4. Hashtag each of your pins with #Treswedding
5. Leave a comment on our contest announcement pin on Pinterest with a link to your "Wedding Day Inspiration" board!

Be sure to enter by June 30. We're excited to see your vision of the big day! Check out the official rules here. And see our featured weddings and ultimate wedding guide for ideas to pin!

If you don't have a Pinterest account yet, get an invitation here.

Hysteria Director Tanya Wexler Talks Vibrators, Faking It, and Duck Sex

Tara Block — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:15 PDT

Don't be shy . . . It's time to talk sex toys! And Hysteria director Tanya Wexler is writing us a prescription for pleasure. Tanya's film - what she calls "the vibrator movie you can bring your mom to" - is in limited release and stars Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Rupert Everett. When working on a romantic comedy that centers around the invention of the vibrator, you end up with some entertaining and embarrassing situations along the way, and lucky for us, Tanya spilled all the hilariously dirty details. From teaming up with the film's partner Jimmyjane for a drive-by vibrator drop-off to a certain female Oscar-winner to trying unsuccessfully to get ducks to shag on command, Tanya was bursting with great stories from working on this very unconventional film. And while Tanya isn't ashamed to discuss the sexy subject matter of her latest film with us, the mother of four and her partner of 21 years did have a tricky challenge telling her preteen kids what her movie was about. (She eventually gave them the script and let them figure it out themselves!) Check out our interview with the fun-loving director now, and we dare you not to have a girl crush on her by the end!

TrèsSugar: What were some of the challenges to getting a movie made about vibrators?
Tanya Wexler: Getting the script right was tricky because if you just make a movie about the invention of the vibrator, it's actually a really short movie: you go "bzz" and it's done. And we had a kind of light romantic comedy. I say I made the vibrator movie you can bring your mom to. But some people wanted it to be raunchy or some people wanted it to be more serious and about feminism. People project a lot onto this movie of what they want, because there isn't a lot out there about vibrators and women's pleasure, and we still don't really deal with that topic very well, or we're overly antsy around it. And as a result, people have a lot of ideas of what the movie could and should be, and you can't please everyone. [laughs]

TS: Ha, good one.
TW: It's nonstop!

TS: Do you find sex toys inherently funny or something to be seriously celebrated?
TW: Yes!

TS: Both?
TW: Yes! Yes. I think they make me laugh, and I think that the inner kind of Beavis and Butt-head in all of us goes "[laugh]." You know, that inner 13-year-old, like, "Hahaha vibrator . . . " and yet they're awesome and fun.

TS: What shocked you the most when researching the movie?
TW: That ducks are the rapists of the bird world, and you'll see when you see the movie, because there's a little bit of questionable duck behavior - or awesome duck behavior - in the movie. It's totally a sidebar, but you cannot make ducks shag on command. I'm just saying.

TS: What about the whole history of hysteria being a medical condition?
TW: When I first heard the idea, I was like, "What do you mean it was invented in Victorian times?" I knew about hysteria, but the idea that the treatment was manual [British accent] massage deparaxism - which is what they called it - and, of course, the denial. The most shocking thing is the denial, that they didn't think it was sexual.

TS: Do you think they were really in denial?
TW: No, I don't think that some people were. My college roommate was with her high school boyfriend for two years and she had never had an orgasm. I think there's all kinds of denial, especially with women's sexuality. So the fact that there are young women today who haven't had an orgasm, whether self-induced - which is insane - or with a partner, then why wouldn't we think back then that women wouldn't know what orgasms were?

They would get a massage, and the doctor's saying, "Without a penis, this isn't sex, because sex is about procreation," so what is this? The best physical therapy you've ever had. So once you don't think of it as something other than what the doctor's supposed to do to cure your uncontrollable crying or uncontrollable laughter or whatever, then it's just an awesome muscle spasm. If you don't think women have their own inherent sexuality, then you're not thinking about it like that.

Keep reading for Tanya's thoughts on Fifty Shades and more!

"I'm Not Sure What I Want Anymore"

Tres Community — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:30:54 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I am having a hard time making some big decisions in my life right now. My boyfriend and I are currently long distance, but we were together for over two years before that. After he moved, we stayed together for a while and then broke up for a few months because of the distance and unclear future. We got back together at the end of last year and have been trying to make things work since then. We're both aware that we need to be in the same city to make things work, and I started making plans to accomplish that. The thing is, I'm not sure I want to leave. Or rather, I'm pretty sure I don't. I love where I live, I am lucky enough to have an amazing job with advancement potential, and if I do move, I'll be giving all of that up and starting over.

To add another layer, our relationship is not without its issues. When we were in the same place, there was a fair amount of drama, and in the time we were broken up, I was with someone else, and this has caused trust issues and hurt feelings. In spite of this, we love each other, and I want to marry him and start a family. I know that because of his ties to where he is living now, he will not move, so it's up to me to go there, and not vice versa. I told myself that the move was something I was willing to do so we could be together, but that I wouldn't do it without knowing he was really in it and wanted the same future I do.

Recently, though, I've been feeling like I don't want to move at all, and wondering why I should be the one to do it if we both want the relationship to work. I guess I'm just trying to figure out if I should end things and hope that we can remain friends, or if I should suck it up and move for a future I hope we'll have.

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

Zac Efron Sports a Scruffy Mustache on His Way to Cannes

Lauren Turner — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:02:59 PDT

Zac Efron carried his luggage into LAX yesterday. He covered up in a beanie and sported a mustache for the trip to France, where he's set to premiere The Paperboy at the Cannes Film Festival. His costars Matthew McConaughey and Nicole Kidman have already arrived in the South of France, joining the many celebrities at Cannes. Zac's on the go again after traveling overseas to promote his other project The Lucky One for much of April. He popped up in London and Berlin for press before the movie's solid opening at the US box office last month.

Yogini Kristin McGee Dishes on Bethenny Frankel's Fave Pose and Getting Ready For Beach Season

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:36:21 PDT

I was lucky enough to take a class taught by Manhattan-based yoga teacher Kristin McGee right here in San Francisco! Although one busy lady, Kristin traveled across the country to teach Vinyasa Vibes (a new offering at The Sports Club/LA), a flow-based, powerful yoga sequence enhanced by music. The most musical part of the practice? During Savasana, the class culminated in a live sax solo by Grammy-nominated musician Dave Koz. After class, Kristin and I chatted about her yoga journey, getting ready for bikini season, and what it's like working with one of her famous clients, Bethenny Frankel.

FitSugar: Some of the moves in Vinyasa Vibes are Ashtanga-influenced. Is that what your yoga teacher training background was in?
Kristin McGee: My original background was really eclectic because I started in the early '90s. I started taking [yoga] at NYU; some of my very early teachers were Jivamukti teachers who did study Ashtanga. Then I did study with Richard Freedman for a while, who is pure Ashtanga, and Cyndi Lee at OM Yoga. I wanted to get deeper into Iyengar classes and get into the alignment and the detail. Now in my practice I want to get more into Pranayama, more of the breathing, and maybe take some more Kundalini classes. I just feel like it constantly evolves.

FS: The Vinyasa Vibes class has live music during final relaxation. Can you elaborate on the experience of live music and yoga combined?
KM: In yoga practice, it’s a very intimate, immediate place. It's almost like live theater or live music where it brings you right into the moment. Music is a universal language, just like our breath is a universal breath. I think the second we're in this surrounding, in this environment with that live music and the intimacy of a live class, it brings it all together in one beautiful experience.

FS: You’ve collaborated with Bethenny Frankel on some projects. What's her favorite pose?
KM: Bethenny’s all-time favorite pose is Straddle Forward Bend because she says it feels like the weight of the world is falling off of her shoulders. Someone like Bethenny Frankel has a million things going on, and I don’t know how she does it! But I think you also noticed it in the practice tonight. Right when we finally got to that Straddle Forward Hang, it was kind of just like, "Ugh! Such a release!" You feel like you could stay there for quite a while.

Keep reading for Kristin's favorite snack before class and how to get your body ready for Summer.

A First Look at Versace's Fall/Winter 2012 Campaign: Donatella Would Wear Every Look

Lucky — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:17:05 PDT

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips. We're thrilled to share this fabulous story from our friends at Lucky!

Summer officially arrives in less than a week but the Versace team is already thinking about next season. The brand just released its Fall/Winter 2012 campaign and although the clothes are technically for cooler weather, we wouldn't mind wearing them now. The über sexy Italian label isn't really big on covering up, so most of the pieces would probably work for a breezy May or June night. But since nothing hits stores for at least two or three months, we're happy to obsess over the pictures first.

The black and white images feature model Elza Luijendijk with a severe blonde bob, posing on chain-covered cement bricks with big moody photographs of the ocean in the background. The styling was clearly influenced by head designer Donatella; we could see her wearing every single look on the red carpet-especially that black mini dress with the knee-high boots.

Click over to Lucky to see every shot.

For more fashion and style from Lucky, here are more Lucky stories.

Sarah Jessica Parker Preps to Host a Democratic Soiree

Katie Henry — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:35:27 PDT

Sarah Jessica Parker held hands and chatted with James Wilkie Broderick on their daily walk to school today in NYC. She dropped him off and then casually strolled home in her effortlessly cool cuffed jeans and Converse sneakers. SJP's known for her sense of style and a lucky fan could win the chance to get a sneak peek inside her home by entering a lottery. Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica are supporting President Obama's reelection campaign and hosting a fundraising event at their Manhattan home. By making a small donation to the campaign, you'll be entered to win an opportunity to rub elbows with SJP, Matthew, the president, and influential democrats on June 14. George Clooney held a similar event in LA that raised a record-setting $15 million. The Fall is shaping up to be an exciting season both personally and professionally for SJP. In addition to keeping a close eye on the presidential race, she's also one of the major stars making a cameo on Glee.