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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Lions Gate
Salesrank: 12998
Released: January 27, 2009 |
| Our Price: $2.95 |
| Used Price: $0.85 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Three soliders on leave from the iraq war who unexpectedly find themselves on a poitnant journey of self-discovery. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 01/27/2009 Starring: Rachel Mcadams Tim Robbins Run time: 115 minutes Rating: R Director: Neil Burger
Description of The Lucky Ones:
An earnest if not wholly satisfying comedy-drama about an awkward homecoming for three dissimilar Iraq War veterans, The Lucky Ones works best as a vehicle for its interesting lead performances. Tim Robbins transcends his real-life, anti-war reputation by playing Cheever, a Reservist and decent fellow who is injured in Iraq when a porta-potty falls on him. Eager to see his family, he ends up on a road trip with two other soldiers trying to reach their own destinations. There's Colee (Rachel McAdams), a young and earnest woman who enlisted to escape family problems, endured a leg wound and is on her way to meet the family of her boyfriend, who was killed in combat. There's also T.K. (Michael Peña), recruited from a poor family and granted a month's leave after becoming impotent from a wound. The odyssey these characters, initially strangers to each other, share is fairly predictable for anyone who has seen such classic vets-coming-home movies as The Best Years of Our Lives. As Colee, T.K. and Cheever travel together, they encounter what sometimes feels and looks like an alien landscape: people who patronize them, people who despise the war without an inkling of what it's like to endure it, and a host of other exploitative chuckleheads who just don't get it. Inevitably, the trio has only itself to rely upon, to share the knowledge of the war's reality and provide support in ways that are sometimes funny and sometimes poignant. Co-written and directed by Neil Burger (The Illusionist), The Lucky Ones has a rambling structure that causes the film to lose focus. But its heart is in the right place, and Robbins, McAdams and Peña play people one can care about as much as enjoy. --Tom Keogh
The Lucky Ones Reviews:
Great Movie, and Service. 
2009-09-04 - First of all, shipping was very fast and product was as promised.
The movie itself was absolutely flawless, great movie all around, deffinatley one for keeps.
Humor and Humanity 
2009-09-01 - The same people who complain about the junk coming out of Hollywood seem to be the ones who line up for the summer blockbusters instead of digging a little deeper. My wife and I love finding independent films that deserve more attention. With a stellar cast, we wanted to see where "The Lucky Ones" would take us.
This isn't a perfect film, and it doesn't work on every level, but the three performances alone make it a joy to watch. All three play Iraqi vets on the way back home, two for leave, one for good. All three have been wounded. All three have deeper issues than the marks on their outer bodies. Thrown together by flight cancellations, they drive cross country and discover more about each other and themselves in the process.
The film makes some subtle observations about society, though the insensitivity of some college students seemed a little much--maybe I've just never met such idiots. McAdams, as always, is likeable and easy to empathize with. Pena, despite one reviewer's distaste for him, is a very fine actor--compare his neurotic, hard-edged side here to the soft-hearted guy in "Crash." And Tim Robbins shows some real depth without overdoing it.
The ending is not as predictable as it might seem halfway through. In some ways, the lack of predictability seems somewhat forced, but it also provides for a patriotic and poignant look at the struggles of those who serve our nation. I enjoyed the movie for its humor, humanity, and insight.
Not What I expected 
2009-05-24 - As I am a big fan of Tim Robbins I am never concerned about buying a DVD that he is in.
I'm not sure what I expected from this movie but this wasn't it. I felt each problem that arose was all too predictable and that most of the things that happened to these three wounded people were improbable. Their responses weren't likely either. A disappointment.
A Road Trip Not Worth Viewing 
2009-05-18 - A cliche-ridden "road trip" flick with a less than subtle anti-war, anti-military agenda which is to be expected given the presence of Tim Robbins. On the plus side, it does have some humorous and inspirational moments, but overall, not worth going out of your way for.
Bonding of three soldiers while they are on leave
2009-04-23 - Tim Robbins and his supporting cast (McAdams and Pena) delivers touching story about three wounded soldiers temporarily back home in US after serving in Iraq. All three of them have been wounded while on active duty and are sent back home for 30 day rest. Upon arrival to NYC airport their flights are canceled due to prolonged power outage and the three decide to share a rental car ride on their cross country treck to their respective homes.
During their trip from east coast to the west they learn about each other's lives, how they were wounded and try to figure out their next move after 30 day leave is over. The unexpected realities of the civilian life sends them a curveball that they try to resolve. In spite of being relative strangers, all three are protective of each other in every possible sense. Many of their adventures are humorous, but the end of their stories is definitely suprising.
I absolutely loved this movie and I recommend it to everyone. It will give one a perspective on what makes people choose to become soldiers, what keeps them going and what keeps bringing them back to their duty. It also shows the other side of the story on how little civilians really understand about military experience and how at times, civilans can be disrespectful even if they mean well.
