The Lucky Ones (2008)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Neil Burger

Writers (WGA):

Neil Burger (written by) &
Dirk Wittenborn (written by)

Release Date:

26 September 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Tagline:

Sometimes losing your way home means finding yourself

Plot:

The story revolves around three soldiers -- Colee, TK and Cheever -- who return from the Iraq War after...

Plot Keywords:

Hooker | Road Trip | Bar | Iraq War | Black Out

Cast

Tim Robbins	...	Fred Cheaver
Rachel McAdams	...	Colee Dunn
Michael Peña	...	T.K. Poole
Molly Hagan	...	Pat Cheaver
Mark L. Young	...	Scott Cheaver
Howard Platt	...	Stan Tilson
John Heard	...	Bob
Arden Myrin	...	Barbara Tilson
Coby Goss	...	Peter Tilson
Vis Brown	...	Rental Car Agent
Spencer Garrett	...	Pastor Jerry Nolan
Katie Korby	...	Shannon
Katherine LaNasa	...	Janet
Conner Manning	...	Jesse
William Manning	...	Jesse

Also Known As:

The Return (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

Canada:113 min | USA:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44062) | Canada:18A

Filming Locations:

Alsip, Illinois, USA

Company:

Overnight

Soundtrack:

Blind Eagle

"Lucky Ones"...Or Are They?

Director Neil Burger's latest film, The Lucky Ones, follows three Army soldiers at home on 30-day leave. Don't yawn just yet! Burger doesn't want audiences to lump this movie with the numerous other recently released war-related films, none of which grossed highly at the box office. Perhaps Burger wants audiences to look beyond the war-related elements and instead understand war-time's heated political landscape.

Burger discussed this film at a recent advance screening. The film focuses on the way war impacts the life a solider leaves behind, and it does so in the guise of a road movie (think Thelma and Louise or Y Tu Mama Tambien). As Burger says, "it's less about war". Rather, he describes the film as "a love letter to America." T.K. (Michael Pena) is a quiet, confident man who never shows weakness. His demeanor never wavers, despite an accident that seriously endangers his sexual virility. Colee (Rachel McAdams) is a naive, bubbly Southern girl on a quest to return her late boyfriend's prized guitar to his family. Estranged from her own family, Colee dreams that the boyfriend's family will invite her to live with them. A leg injury has left Colee with a noticeably severe limp. Cheever (Tim Robbins) is an older soldier who injured his back when a portable toilet fell on him; He just wants to see his wife and son.

When a blackout at a New York City airport grounds all airplanes, the three soldiers travel together by car. The three function well together, and they are hurt and lost enough that they might not do well alone. Though their ultimate destination is Las Vegas, they deal with unexpected family situations and zany situations along the way.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is the way it shows how civilians behave toward the soldiers. Although the story sometimes grinds to a halt during these scenes, they represent a nice, ranging spectrum of decorum. Attitudes range from earnest respect (a car agent lends them a car, despite lying to other customers about car availability) to awkward indifference (a Hummer dealer brags about how his cars are better than the military's version) and even contempt (one man blames the soldiers for his perceived notion that the war is failing spectacularly).

But as interesting as these reactions are, they are kept to a relative minimum. This film is more concerned with the emotional growth of the characters, as they endure their own trying times. But Burger also mixes in some humorous scenes to lighten the tension. The mix of different styles and emotions give the film an unusual feel, but one that is unique enough to work.

A film that follows only three characters can live or die by the strength of its actors. Thankfully, the stars are up to the task. McAdams naturally stands out, as her character is lively and zesty. She is very convincing in this role, one that could have easily come off as one-dimensional by a lesser talent. To prepare for the role, McAdams participated in a boot camp. Both T.K. and Cheever are tougher, less-flashier roles to pull off, but Pena, who has had military experience, and Robbins both do well. The men are quiet and contemplative, but it's obvious that their mental well-being could very well be hanging by a thread.

After the film, Burger took audience questions. The discussion was relatively brief, but nonetheless productive. Burger noted that some of the inspiration from the movie stemmed from his last film, The Illusionist, which was filmed in the Czech Republic. Returning to the U.S. provided a culture shock, a feeling that he channeled in this film The Lucky Ones may have an unusual style, but it's an overall good piece of work. The title originates from a statement that Colee makes at the beginning of the film: "We're lucky ones, aren't we? We made it through in one piece." When the film is over, the viewer will certainly question whether or not Colee is right. And any movie that can make an audience think is worth viewing.

By Adam Shuler, "Too Shy to Stop" Entertainment Editor - tooshytostop.com