The Lucky One (2012)

Happy May, everyone! Given that Efron's movie, New Year's Eve releases to DVD today, it only seems appropriate that I also post the review on this, his latest film. To begin this review, let us start with some perfectly legitimate questions: How many screaming, young girls do you suppose will see this movie merely because Zac Efron’s muscled physique is featured on the romantic poster in addition to just his name alone being plastered above that? After all, women love a good romance every now and then, right? For those of us who love a good drama with pretty theatrics that is set against scenic locations – plus stars a leading guy who is easy on the eyes, the answer is, yes. Fortunately for The Lucky One, it has everything listed and then some, finding its own voice in the process.

Destiny is something you sometimes have to experience to believe… or that is what U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Efron) discovers. While on his third tour of duty in Iraq, he’d have never believed the detour his life would take once he leaves the Marine Corp possible. Following a tense night raid in which two platoons crossed paths but cost lives, Logan finds a well-loved photograph lying among rocks with the words “keep safe” on the back and a blonde-haired woman. Seconds later, a bomb drops in the place Logan just moved from. Unable to find the owner of the photo, Logan carries it with him through the rest of his tour, even as his friend claims it to be Logan’s lucky charm – the only thing still keeping him alive… just before they are to return home, their convoy is hit… Victor doesn’t make it out. Logan does.

Back home, Logan’s adjustment to civilian life is rocky. Every car that backfires, every video game sends Logan into combat mode. His sister urges him to get help but instead he simply leaves, taking Victors advice, he sets out to find the woman in the photo – to find himself. Finding the lighthouse located in Hampton Louisiana, Logan comes face-to-face with her. She is Beth Green (Taylor Schilling), a single mom who runs her family’s dog training farm. Raising her young son, Beth left teaching when her Nana (Blythe Danner) had a mild stroke. Friendship blooms between the pair… but life's curveballs threaten to get in the way.

If only one thing could be said about novelist Nicholas Sparks, it’d be that he has a simplistic, easy-going knack for gushing romantics. Helmed as one of Spark’s “best” (with exception to the always touted The Notebook – honestly, what is so great about that one?), this film was actually more than a “pretty face.” Prior to this, I’d never read any of Mr. Sparks books, and this led me to admit that the experience was all the richer having read the novel. Tending more towards being a visual person, I still probably liked the on-screen story thinking it superior but it made the movie seem all the “better” for having read the story first. I loved knowing what was coming, what the characters were meant to be feeling and thinking of at the time and also, their motivations.  

Reflective and moody would best be how to describe this nearly two-hour piece of film-work. It seems to burrow itself in emotions that “feel” unusually genuine – and it works well. A lot of key moments and scenes are nothing more than expressions and characters observing how others react or act in situations they are placed in. The film is admirable simply by making its own mistakes and taking “risks” of a kind by (as usual) being contradictory to the novel. I cannot say that I didn’t like the changes but I must concede that Sparks better developed the relationship between Logan and Ben (Riley Thomas Stewart). The scenes here are still fabulous but they number less. To its credit, the romance of each moment is not just “sappy” (“you should be kissed every day…”) but also breaking free of that, is sweetly genuine and touching. There are times when it is downright sensual (courtesy of two love scenes) but I actually found everything came together beautifully.

Writing about this and thinking back on it, I’ve tried not to be biased because I did read some reviews (note to self: badly done!) prior to seeing it which has been something I’ve not been doing of late. Given how “kind” mainstream critics have been to it only further intrigued me. The film itself is wonderfully honest and complimentary to the heart of the story. No matter what critics say about Efron, I thought he was (hello) wonderful in the role. With Logan, he proved that he has more acting chops than just that of a teen idol from his HSM days. His depiction of Logan was one of substance and heart-wrenching emotions that not everyone could have pulled off; he was quiet in nature but took Beth’s feelings seriously by being not just a friend but a good listener. He understood her pain where everyone else did not. Similarly, the rest of the cast does nothing to hinder the movie; I don’t think Taylor did a bad job as Beth by any means (she played off of Efron well); she wears her heart on her sleeve in certain instances where we do glimpse her deep sorrow but she didn’t play heart-wrenching emotions well.  

Did the screenplay compliment the story? Yes, without question but it also did things its own way, and I can respect that having now actually read the novel then seen the movie come to life. (Just one example was downplaying Keith’s character – I really valued the omission of his true nature.) There were liberties taken but I loved how the movie started, giving us a firm idea of Logan’s emotions later in the film and those liberties were not necessarily a “bad” thing. It was moving in certain instances, disappointing in others but most of all, it was really beautiful. There was more than just a sweeping romance at stake, and as much as is fair to expect, The Lucky One rose to the occasion.

Tell me... what did you think of this one? Is the book "better" in your opinion? Are you even going to see this one? Share any thoughts below.

(What to know: this film is rated PG13 for two lengthy love scenes [shot in the muted glow of evening]. One begins in the shower and is a sensual picture of a clothed [heavy] make-out scene, legs wrapped around each other before moving to the bedroom in a slow dance of clothing removal [hands move down the others body and there is movement under the sheets]. A man drowns; there are about ten minutes worth of scenes on the battlefield with some explosions and gunfire. Startled, Logan nearly chokes his nephew. Beth often dresses immodestly and drinking alcohol is second-nature to the adults. Profanity is infrequent; a few uses of sh*t, h*ll and GD is about all there is.) 

Categories: Adaptation, Drama, Movie, Nicholas Sparks, Review, Romance, Zac Efron

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