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THE LUCKY ONES
The 2008 comedy drama The Lucky Ones was an offbeat episodic drama that put a deft twist on the traditional road trip/buddy movie genre that takes some unexpected detours but never fails to hold viewer attention.
This is the story of three soldiers who are returning from the war after being injured. Cheever (Tim Robbins) is a veteran who was injured in a non-combat incident who is being sent home for good. TK (Michael Pena) received an injury that rendered him impotent and he is on leave for 30 days, as is Colee (Rachel McAdams), who was shot in the leg. The three soldiers hook up accidentally and end up on the road together and eventually learn that the people they left behind before the war have moved on with their lives and have not been standing patiently next to the old oak tree with the yellow ribbon tied around it.
Director and co-screenwriter Neil Burton has created a realistic journey for three characters who at the core of this, are virtual strangers except for their connection to the military and this story drives home how important that connection can be and how friendship and unconditional support and defense can build from that connection. Virtual strangers at the beginning of the movie, there is no doubt that by the end of this film, Cheever, TK, and Colee would walk through fire for each other.
The story also effectively showcases different reactions to the service our three central characters have provided and how everyone doesn't feel the same about it. We see our heroes receive thanks for their service and we see them ridiculed for it as well, The balance that this portion of the story revealed was a pleasant surprise.
Tim Robbins and Michael Pena are solid and though I thought Rachel McAdams came off a little soft initially, she eventually sold me on this quiet little girl becoming a soldier who was full of spit and vinegar. A different kind of buddy movie that featured a screenplay that could have used a little tightening, but it was still a pretty entertaining ride that provided unexpected surprises along the way.
The 2008 comedy drama The Lucky Ones was an offbeat episodic drama that put a deft twist on the traditional road trip/buddy movie genre that takes some unexpected detours but never fails to hold viewer attention.
This is the story of three soldiers who are returning from the war after being injured. Cheever (Tim Robbins) is a veteran who was injured in a non-combat incident who is being sent home for good. TK (Michael Pena) received an injury that rendered him impotent and he is on leave for 30 days, as is Colee (Rachel McAdams), who was shot in the leg. The three soldiers hook up accidentally and end up on the road together and eventually learn that the people they left behind before the war have moved on with their lives and have not been standing patiently next to the old oak tree with the yellow ribbon tied around it.
Director and co-screenwriter Neil Burton has created a realistic journey for three characters who at the core of this, are virtual strangers except for their connection to the military and this story drives home how important that connection can be and how friendship and unconditional support and defense can build from that connection. Virtual strangers at the beginning of the movie, there is no doubt that by the end of this film, Cheever, TK, and Colee would walk through fire for each other.
The story also effectively showcases different reactions to the service our three central characters have provided and how everyone doesn't feel the same about it. We see our heroes receive thanks for their service and we see them ridiculed for it as well, The balance that this portion of the story revealed was a pleasant surprise.
Tim Robbins and Michael Pena are solid and though I thought Rachel McAdams came off a little soft initially, she eventually sold me on this quiet little girl becoming a soldier who was full of spit and vinegar. A different kind of buddy movie that featured a screenplay that could have used a little tightening, but it was still a pretty entertaining ride that provided unexpected surprises along the way.