BuzzSugar

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.

Source

Music in the Movies: Sad Brad Smith's "Help Yourself"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:30:20 -0800

Have you ever been in the middle of watching a movie when you hear a new song that you immediately fall in love with? This happens to me on a regular basis, and I often find myself rushing home to try to download the song before I forget the tune entirely. A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend an advance screening of Up in the Air, when one of those moments hit. I quickly learned that the song is called "Help Yourself" and was written just for the movie by a guy called Sad Brad Smith.

The song is simple, sad, and sweet - not unlike many of Elliot Smith's songs. It's featured during one of the most poignant scenes of the movie and the lyrics fit the story like a glove, though I won't give away much more than that. The movie's soundtrack won't be available until December 1st, but you can listen to the song right now and let me know what you think.

Like the film itself, this little ditty is already getting whispers of an Oscar nod. To check it out, just read more.

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:30:00 -0800

Looking for some fresh picks to add to your Netflix queue? I've got you covered. Just take a peek at these three new releases coming out on DVD today.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra

Many of you said that you weren't psyched to see the slick action update on the classic toy in theaters, but perhaps you'll feel differently now that it is available to watch at home. G.I. Joe has that loud, flashy, blockbuster appeal which can make for a perfect weekend rental - even if it's pretty much mindless entertainment. (Plus, I know how much you love Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum!) Bonus: If you're a CGI geek, the special two-disc version includes a behind-the-scenes look at the special effects.

37%

Two more new releases when you read more.

I Love You Beth Cooper
Hayden Panettiere stars as the title character - the hottest girl in school and long-time crush of the film's nerdy hero, Denis. When Denis wins class valedictorian, he uses his graduation speech to profess his love to Beth. Lucky for him, the act of courage works in his favor, and Beth shows up at his house. You can pretty much guess what happens from there - her boyfriend is not pleased, threatens to beat Denis up, etc. - but the DVD features an alternate ending to spice things up. Critics panned its release, but if you're a devotee of the teen sex comedy genre, then this is one to put on your viewing checklist.

14%

Food Inc.

Ever wondered where the meal on your plate really comes from? Food Inc. is a documentary that breaks down America's food industry step by step - from the farms where it's produced, to the big brother-like companies that monopolize it, to the supermarket. It's an interesting - albeit frightening - insider's peek that is packed with expert info. (Even my health guru, FitSugar, gave it her stamp of approval.) Consider this your brain food for the week - but if I were you, I'd refrain from eating while you're watching it.

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The Matchups are Heating Up in Our Scariest Movie Bracket!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:30:19 -0700

What really makes a movie scary? Is it monsters and gore, or the kind of psychological thriller that gets into your brain and keeps you up at night? The answers are all subjective, which makes our bracket to determine the scariest movie of all time even more exciting. One of the hottest matchups right now is between Psycho and 28 Days Later. The two films couldn't be more different, except that they both gave me some pretty serious nightmares. Be sure to weigh in on the debates with your own picks and remember - there's a big prize in it for one lucky winner!

Win a Wii by Playing Celebrity Faceoff!

PopSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:25:00 -0800

Congrats to our latest Wii winner, letsbefrank! We still have ONE more fabulous Nintendo Wii to give away so whether you want one for yourself or as a holiday gift it's time to start playing since time is running out. To be eligible to win, all you have to do is play the Celebrity Faceoff game. Even if you love the game but just can't seem to get your name on that leaderboard, then this is your lucky day because to win a Wii you don't have to be just a top scorer! This time around your personal high score will be the amount of times you are entered into the random drawing. Get 85 right - be entered 85 times! Hurry up - it's your last chance so start playing now! Check out the official rules here.

Win a Wii by Playing Celebrity Faceoff!

PopSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:35:00 -0800

Congrats to our latest Wii winner, lilybiscuit7! We still have 2 more fabulous Nintendo Wiis to give away so whether you want one for yourself or as a holiday gift it's time to start playing. To be eligible to win, all you have to do is play the Celebrity Faceoff game. Even if you love the game but just can't seem to get your name on that leaderboard, then this is your lucky day because to win a Wii you don't have to be just a top scorer! This time around your personal high score will be the amount of times you are entered into the random drawing. Get 85 right - be entered 85 times! Hurry up and start playing now! Check out the official rules here.

Win a Wii by Playing Celebrity Faceoff!

PopSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:15:00 -0800

Congrats to our first Wii winner, tatytulove! We still have 3 more fabulous Nintendo Wiis to give away so whether you want one for yourself or as a holiday gift it's time to start playing. To be eligible to win, all you have to do is play the Celebrity Faceoff game. Even if you love the game but just can't seem to get your name on that leaderboard, then this is your lucky day because to win a Wii you don't have to be just a top scorer! This time around your personal high score will be the amount of times you are entered into the random drawing. Get 85 right - be entered 85 times! Today's winner will even get her Wii in time for the holidays so hurry and get playing now! Check out the official rules here.

Win a Wii by Playing Celebrity Faceoff!

PopSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:25:00 -0800

As huge fans of the Nintendo Wii and knowing it's a hit holiday gift this season, we got our hands on five and are giving away one every day this week. To be eligible to win, all you have to do is play the Celebrity Faceoff game. Even if you love playing but just can't seem to get your name on that leaderboard, then this is your lucky day because to win a Wii you don't have to be just a top scorer! This time around your personal high score will be the amount of times you are entered into the random drawing. Get 85 right - be entered 85 times! Today's winner will even get her Wii in time for the holidays so hurry and get playing now! Check out the official rules here.

Win a Wii by Playing Celebrity Faceoff!

PopSugar — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 23:58:44 -0800