Of its genre, it's uncommonly good, and it's also the cheeriest movie about Iraq war vets I've yet seen.
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09/26/08
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The Lucky Ones (2008)
35
%
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Reviews Counted:68
Fresh:24
Rotten:44
Average Rating:4.9/10
Consensus: The Lucky Ones features heartfelt performances, but is undone by the plot's overwrought parade of coincidence and contrivance.
Synopsis: Neil Burger's follow-up to his accomplished period piece, THE ILLUSIONIST, is an affecting naturalistic modern drama. THE LUCKY ONES concerns three Iraq War soldiers who have just returned to the... [More]
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, Michael Pena, Molly Hagan
Director: Neil Burger
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Reviews for The Lucky Ones
As they hit the road, the scenes play out like TV sitcom vignettes with little holding the centre together. We find out details about the characters lives, but never feel we know them.
09/26/08
Top CriticThe story (by director Burger and Dirk Wittenborn) contains too many coincidences and convergences to wholly ring true.
09/26/08
The direction is functional, workmanlike; Burger never steals the spotlight from his characters.
09/29/08
It isn't unpleasant to spend two hours with these three soldiers, although it might have been more enjoyable to spend the time getting to know them rather than force-feeding them artificial road bumps.
09/22/08
Top CriticThree Army soldiers on the road in America bond together through a series of preposterous happenings that come across as silly.
09/26/08
With one head-gnawing plot contrivance after another, it may think it's the wacky Iraq version of Easy Rider but is more like this year's Around the Bend or Diamonds.
09/25/08
Writer/director Neil Burger...takes a big step back with "The Lucky Ones," a sitcomy road movie that throws together three hard luck Iraq war vets.
09/25/08
If not for the warmth and likability of its characters and those playing them, The Lucky Ones would be a tiresome formula picture.
03/18/09
Its lack of emotional thrust doesn't inspire the viewer to feel one way or another.
09/26/08
Top CriticA refreshing departure from the normal 'soldier's story' movies we've seen in recent years.
09/24/08
In the same way much conventional wisdom about the war is half-baked, The Lucky Ones is awash in stereotypes and generalities.
09/25/08
This formula is fraught with pitfalls, but the characters and the actors redeem it with a surprising emotional impact.
09/25/08
Top CriticIn this interview, The Lucky Ones director Neil Burger speaks about understanding the modern soldier, his surprising casting choice of anti-war activist Tim Robbins as a veteran and why he relates the story while the Iraq conflict continues.
09/30/08
The dialogue is often sharp and funny and the performances nicely pitched.
09/26/08
[A] far-fetched take on Iraq War homecomings.
09/26/08
Top CriticThe Lucky Ones isn't dull, and the actors do quite nicely, especially McAdams, who's feisty, gorgeous, and as mercurial as a mood ring.
09/24/08
Top CriticThe Lucky Ones takes a decent premise -- three soldiers returning from Iraq facing domestic challenges upon their arrival home -- and crams so much forced drama into it that the movie devolves into a hack buddy picture.
09/25/08
Top CriticThe drama's one glaring weakness is that its contrivances are far too obvious...Despite that, the unexpectedly light, sometimes humorous story is still enormously affecting.
09/17/08
After running through some pretty contrived paces for much of its running time, The Lucky Ones has some surprises in the last act that ultimately make it more satisfying than it might have been.
09/26/08
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August 24, 2008:
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