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The Lucky Ones: Surprisingly Funny and Cute

BuzzSugar — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:00:38 -0700

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, read 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

Movie Preview: The Lucky Ones

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:30:23 -0700

"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, read more.

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Buzz News Roundup, 10/5

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:59:04 -0700

HBO has renewed "Tell Me You Love Me" and picked up pilots about a medical research facility and a biker gang, Zap2it reports.
Warner Bros. has bought a Todd Phillips script titled Hangover all about "three pals who lose the groom at his Vegas bachelor party, 40 hours before the wedding," writes Variety.
Yahoo Music has news that the Sex Pistols may not be able to swear during their upcoming reunion tour.
"30 Rock" is getting more big-name guest stars, USA Today reports, including Al Gore, David Schwimmer, Steve Buscemi and Meredith Vieira.
The release date for The Kite Runner has been pushed to December as families fear possible backlash against the film's child actors, reports E! Online.
Variety reports that Warren Beatty will be awarded this year's Lifetime Achievement award from AFI.
Comedy Central has picked up a pop-culture debate series with Lewis Black as the moderator, and the Futon Critic has the details.
A show written and directed by Tim Robbins might be coming to Showtime, writes the Hollywood Reporter.

Photo courtesy of HBO

Buzz News Roundup, 7/13

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:30:22 -0700

ESPN will have a special “Beckham-cam” for the soccer star's U.S. debut, writes the Times UK.
Mandy Patinkin is being written out of the "Criminal Minds" season premiere after failing to show up for his first day of work, Zap2it reports.
Us Weekly says Illeana Douglas is heading to "Ugly Betty" to play an editor at Mode.
ComingSoon reports that one of my favorite funny ladies, Cheryl Hines, is joining Luke Wilson in the romantic comedy Henry Poole Was Here.
NME fuels the rumor that Blur may reunite for a new album.
Ellen Burstyn and Michael Imperioli will star in "For One More Day," an Oprah-produced TV movie based on a Mitch Albom book.
According to Variety, Tim Robbins will be joining Bill Murray and Saoirse Ronan in the movie City of Embers.
Billboard reports that Marilyn Manson is making a horror movie about Lewis Carroll.
Reuters says Rosie O'Donnell will return to "Nip/Tuck."
Who needs TV? Aaron Sorkin has a new three-film screenwriting deal with DreamWorks, which will include a film based on the protesters at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago.

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