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The Lucky Ones By John Mulderig Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- The toll of the Iraq War and the stateside reception awaiting its returning or furloughed veterans are the focus of the listless comic drama "The Lucky Ones" (Lionsgate/Roadside). Stranded at a New York airport by a power outage, three wounded soldiers -- Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams), TK Poole (Michael Pena) and Fred Cheaver (Tim Robbins) -- opt to drive to Cheaver's hometown of St. Louis, from which the other two will continue on to Las Vegas. But the unexpected reception awaiting Cheaver extends their road trip, allowing them to help each other work through the physical, emotional and financial problems caused by the military conflict. Though saddled with an obvious script, the three leads, with Robbins as the avuncular referee between plucky, optimistic McAdams and cynical hotshot Pena, affably provide the film's main draw. Director and co-writer (with Dirk Wittenborn) Neil Burger's film is sometimes implausible, as when the trio visits a church and Dunn regales the congregation with her new acquaintances' very personal travails by way of a prayer request. And, though it deals evenhandedly with political matters, "The Lucky Ones" repeatedly presents casual sexuality as a subject for humor. The film contains brief graphic sexual activity without nudity, adultery, brief pornographic images, sexual themes, much rough and crude language, and a few uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. - - - Mulderig is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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