With the latest Nicholas Sparks novel-movie adaptation, there comes another sugary and predictable romance film, “The Lucky One.” The movie begins with the protagonist Logan (Zac Efron) in present time who is a Marine serving in Iraq. Serving his nation as a sergeant is a traumatizing experience for him, as every day he spends in the Middle East, his life is at risk.
One afternoon, he finds an object shining in the rubble and walks over to discover a photo of a woman. Moments after he finds the photograph, the area explodes and the consequent pressure knocks Logan off his feet. He survives but is unconscious from the blast.
After Logan is sent home to America, he feels obligated to give thanks to the woman in the wallet-size image for saving his life.
The woman in question is Beth (Taylor Schilling), a divorced mother who let her ex-husband bully her life with threats of taking her child. Through the loss of her close brother, also a Marine, she comes off very narrow-minded. She believes that Logan is mental and gives him a hard time. As the movie progresses, the characters fall in love.
I enjoyed this “chick flick” for the story line and the lead actor. Zac Efron has finally strayed from the “High School Musical” roles and jumped onto his first mature movie, even doing a steamy scene with co-star Taylor Schilling. Logan, the character he portrays, may have post-traumatic stress, but is nothing but chivalrous. Logan’s looks leave you melting in your seat and keeping your fingers crossed that he isn’t the character Sparks decides to kill off at the end.
A respect towards Marines is prominent. Efron plays a typical Marine: honest, kind and a defender of the weak. I thought this was appropriate given the circumstances that Americans remain in the Middle East putting their lives at risk to serve their country every day. This gives kudos points to all Marines and soldiers.
Being a fan of Efron ever since his “High School Musical” days, I was a little afraid that this role would be a complete disaster. I thought his performance was okay; I don’t think the character had enough play room to show off his acting skills. I was also nervous about his chemistry with an older actress on screen. Through the trailers, you automatically think that it is just going to be an awkward match. As the film progressed, my mind was just numb to the erroneous chemistry. Perhaps there was a miscast with the character Beth. The movie was mediocre. I really enjoyed the male perspective of the Nicholas Sparks adaptation and even though it was fairly cliché, it was an enjoyable romantic drama for a date night.
