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

Rachel Is One of the Lucky Ones, Even Without Ryan

Molly — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:05:00 -0700

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 read more

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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 -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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Model of the Week: Karolina Kurkova

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 12:21:22 -0800

Welcome to the fifth installment of Model of the Week. I've written a five question interview that I have conducted with several models to share with you. The questions are both fun and beauty related and will always stay the same. To see the rest of the Model of the Week posts click here.

Here's a little history about Karolina Kurkova. She was born on February 28, 1984 in Decín, Czech Republic. She was discovered when an admiring friend sent some pictures of her to a modeling agency in Prague. She immediately booked a runway show, a commercial, an ad campaign and then traveled to Milan to explore the international world of fashion.

It was in Milan where she met Miuccia Prada who signed her to a Prada contract at the tender age of 15. She then met Vogue editors in NY, where she now lives.

Karolina has signed deals with: Yves Saint Laurent, Victoria's Secret, Tommy, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta and Balenciaga.

She is one of the most renowned models in the world. In 2001, she graced the cover of Vogue and in 2002 she was granted the "Model of the Year" title at the 2002 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards.

She is quite accustomed to fame though. Her Dad is Josef Kurka - a former star basketball player. There is a reason this beauty has become a shining star. She is sweet, down to earth, driven and extremely articulate. Best of luck to you Karolina!

To read the interview that was conducted at Victoria's Secret in NY on her birthday, read more

BELLA: What is your secret to beautiful skin and hair?
KK: I have a steam shower in my apartment, so I steam my face everyday. For my hair, I swear by Victoria's Secret So Sexy Nourishing Shampoo for Dry/Damaged Hair, $9.50, and Victoria's Secret So Sexy Nourishing Conditioner for Dry/Damaged hair, $9.50. It smells so good and it gives my thin hair a lot of volume.

BELLA: What is the one product you can't live without?
KK: Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Makeup - Perfect Lipstick in Whisper, $12. It's a pinkish brown color - I love it.

BELLA: What is your guilty pleasure?
KK: Sweets. I really like chocolate and One Lucky Duck RAW Ice Cream in chocolate, strawberry or vanilla. It's dairy free, made from cashews and coconut meat - so it doesn't upset my stomach and it tastes delicious.

BELLA: What is your favorite drugstore product?
KK: Zip lock bags. If I don't have them in my house, I go nuts. I like to be organized and those zip locks really keep me organized; especially when I travel. I keep my makeup, jewelry, lingerie...everything in them!

BELLA: Happiness is...
KK: Being healthy, being alive! I feel really lucky to have family and friends - so it makes me happy to spend my time with them.

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Monday Giveaway! Win Peter Thomas Roth Brows To Die For Eyebrow Conditioning Treatment

BellaSugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:30:53 -0800

Bold, beautiful brows are definitely in this season, so those of us who've overplucked should take note: Our friends at Sephora want you to have the lushest brows on the block, so all this week they're giving you the chance at Peter Thomas Roth's new eyebrow treatment. Today's lucky winner will receive:

Peter Thomas Roth Brows To Die For Eyebrow Conditioning Treatment-An incredibly luxe eyebrow conditioner that helps overplucked or sparse brows look fuller and thicker.

To enter, just take the quiz by 5 p.m. PST today and one winner will be selected at random. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just on taking the quiz after you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a PopSugar Community member to enter. So if you're not already one, register now. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Prizes can be shipped to US destinations only. Remember: You must be logged in to the PopSugar Community for your entry to count. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

Take the quiz

Sunday Giveaway! Win a Tarte Treasure Chest

BellaSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:30:32 -0800

Arrrrh, mateys! Here be the treasure beauty pirates seek: enough Tarte booty from our friends at Sephora to keep ye a fair maiden 'til the next typhoon. The lucky swashbuckler who wins today's prize will receive:

The Tarte Treasure Chest - Tarte's annual palette has gone supersized this year, with 54 of the brand's bestselling products, including eye shadows, lip glosses, blushes, bronzer, and luminizer, in one gorgeous little chest. Who could ask for anything more?

Take the quiz

Saturday Giveaway! Win a Tarte Treasure Chest

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:30:31 -0800

Arrrgh, mateys! Here be the treasure beauty pirates seek: enough Tarte booty from our friends at Sephora to keep ye a fair maiden 'til the next typhoon. The lucky swashbuckler who wins today's prize will receive:

The Tarte Treasure Chest - Tarte's annual palette has gone supersize this year, with 54 of the brand's best-selling products, including eye shadows, lip glosses, blushes, bronzer, and luminizer, in one gorgeous little chest. Who could ask for anything more?

To enter, just take the quiz by 5 p.m. PST today, and one winner will be selected at random. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just on taking the quiz after you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a PopSugar Community member to enter. So if you're not already one, register now. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Prizes can be shipped to US destinations only. Remember: you must be logged in to the PopSugar Community for your entry to count. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

Take the quiz

Friday Giveaway! Win a Tarte Treasure Chest

BellaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:30:34 -0800

The Tarte Treasure Chest - Tarte's annual palette has gone supersized this year, with 54 of the brand's best-selling products, including eye shadows, lip glosses, blushes, bronzer, and luminizer, in one gorgeous little chest. Who could ask for anything more?

Take the quiz

Thursday Giveaway! Win a Tarte Treasure Chest

BellaSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:30:55 -0800

The Tarte Treasure Chest - Tarte's annual palette has gone supersized this year, with 54 of the brand's best-selling products, including eye shadows, lip glosses, blushes, bronzer, and luminizer, in one gorgeous little chest. Who could ask for anything more?

Take the quiz

Breaking Bad Habits

Sponsor — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:47:46 -0800

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit - which is why we started asking ourselves how many days we've been satisfied with boring weeknights. Lucky for us, no matter how many nights of ordinary times we’ve already had, it just takes one night of good fun with friends to break that dirty little cycle.

You’d be surprised how much a laugh can cure, and Arbor Mist is ready to help you start pouring laughter all over your week with contests, games, and ideas on how to create fun a habit you’ll never want to kick. So visit RefreshYourFun.OnSugar.com to find out all the interesting ways you can turn those ordinary days into something you’ll look forward to.