Saturday Movie: The Lucky One (2012)

So it's one of those Nicholas Spark movies. Emotionally appealing, but predictable as usual movies. Depending on what mood you're in you may like it or love it. Scott Hicks seems like the right director for this type of film. He's done sentimental plenty of times like in films Hearts in Atlantis. He knows how to get a lot of great shots, and bring out the mysteriousness of a stranger, but the plot of this one will have most scratching their heads. We don't live in a world, even in the country, anymore where a stranger can walk into your yard after hunting you down and then try to get your love.

Logan is a marine who finds himself struggling to get back to his normal life after coming home from Iraq. He takes up travelling to Louisiana where he hopes to find the woman in the picture he found in Iraq, which he believes was a good luck charm. He gets his wish, and finds her when he gets there, and begins working for her. The woman, Beth, has a lot of issues though that may prove to tear them apart, including her ex-husband, and father of her child, Keith.


While a little slow this one seemed a little more interesting than past Spark books turned into film, but it will be no The Notebook. Zac Efron is good in his role as Logan, but for some reason him and Taylor Schilling have no chemistry with each other. There just isn't that longing for them to be together because it's like a wall is up between them. Schilling as Beth isn't really memorable in general. She does the role well, but nothing stays with you about it.  After seeing Efron in a variety of roles he has the ability to act, but he's struggling to find that role that proves it to other people. He doesn't say much in this film, but he captures Logan well as a mysterious guy who you wouldn't know how to feel about.

The one who really makes the magic in the film is Blythe Danner as Ellie, Beth's grandma. Danner is rarely off her game in any role, but she seems like fun as any character she takes up. The weakest link is Jay R. Ferguson as Keith, while he makes you dislike him well, he also doesn't seem very strong in the acting department either.

The Lucky One is a short movie for the character development also featured. Either it should have been better woven into the film, or lengthened. There were some slow parts in the movie, so lengthening it may have not been the right thing to do either. For example, Keith jumps from two different types of characters within five minutes. You feel like you should have liked him more, but instead he's the bully, and you're confused by this major change of heart. The writer, Will Fetter, just didn't seem to bring the dialogue, or changes to the light very well in the movie.

There are a lot of pretty scenes provided by Scott Hicks that are beautiful to look at though. He takes snapshots of the country, and provides a beautiful setting to film it. Without this the film would have lost a major point for it. At some points it seems like he just shoots a scene to show off the country, and while they may not be the greatest filler, it is appreciated just to see the beautiful scenery there.

The Lucky One isn't the strongest film in the world, and probably too short for what it is trying to do as far as showcasing the change in characters. It does have the predictable format without the layers needed. Efron and Danner carry it with some acting, while the rest of the cast stands in just to live out the characters in a very not in-depth way. Some parts sort of drag once you know where it's going. For a date night though this movie is one you can get out and watch, and not be afraid to hide.

Rating 3 of 5