The Lucky Ones (2008)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Neil Burger

Writers (WGA):

Neil Burger (written by) &
Dirk Wittenborn (written by)

Release Date:

26 September 2008 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Tagline:

Sometimes losing your way home means finding yourself

Plot:

The story revolves around three soldiers -- Colee, TK and Cheever -- who return from the Iraq War after...

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Road Trip | College Tuition | Stranded | Iraq War

Cast

Tim Robbins	...	Fred Cheaver
Rachel McAdams	...	Colee Dunn
Michael Peña	...	T.K. Poole
Molly Hagan	...	Pat Cheaver
Mark L. Young	...	Scott Cheaver
Howard Platt	...	Stan Tilson
Arden Myrin	...	Barbara Tilson
Coby Goss	...	Peter Tilson (as Coburn Goss)
John Heard	...	Bob
Jennifer Joan Taylor	...	Bob's Wife
Katherine LaNasa	...	Janet
Leo Ford	...	Janet's husband
Susan Yeagley	...	Kendra
Emily Swallow	...	Brandi
John Diehl	...	Tom Klinger

Also Known As:

The Return (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

Canada:113 min | USA:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44062) | Canada:18A | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Alsip, Illinois, USA

Company:

Overnight

Trivia:

This is Tim Robbins's third time portraying a soldier. The first times were Top Gun (1986) and Jacob's Ladder (1990/I). In the latter film, he starred alongside Elizabeth Peña, who shares the same surname with Robbins' The Lucky Ones (2008) co-star 'Michael Pena'

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The Hummer dealership Colee, T.K. and Creaver walk into in the beginning of movie is located in Chesterfield, MO. Which is only 45 minutes from downtown. The next day they are seen driving over the Mississippi river into downtown St. Louis from Illinois.

Quotes:

Colee Dunn: So how long do you have off?
T.K. Poole: 30 days.
Colee Dunn: Me too!
[Turns to Cheaver]
Colee Dunn: How long do you have?
Fred Cheaver: The rest of my life.

Movie Connections:

References Brooklyn Rules (2007)

Soundtrack:

Baby Loves Me All the Time

Well acted, well told, solid film.

I sat down to this film not knowing anything beyond what the trailer depicted...and I had only a vague memory of that. Is it a drama, a comedy, a what...? I can honestly say that I think the answer is yes. To all. It's the most honest, solid, watchable film I've seen in a long time. Nothing seemed forced, gratuitous, or pandering... it's just a well told, and acted, human story. Neither a magical, nor let-down ending...unless one would count "I wish more films could be made this well" as a let down.

So, that's my opinion, which doesn't mean much...unless you are like me, and enjoy the quality of a film more than the franchise future possibilities of one.