The Lucky One

Sometimes you can't explain things, they just happen...

When Logan finds a keep safe picture of a beautiful blonde girl in Iraq and inadvertently misses out on being hit by a direct strike he takes this as a sign that the picture is something special and is determined that if he makes it out alive, he will track the woman down and thank her for saving his life.

Once freed from the rigors of war, he makes his way to a small town in Louisiana to track down the lovely blonde girl in the photo; somebody he knows absolutely nothing about, but knows that somehow keeping her image with him, has kept him alive.

Now if he can only find a way to tell the girl, who lost the man closest to her in her life, how much she means to him....

This is a deeply emotional film, dealing with some very heavy issues, but it does well to keep the audience engaged in a feel good story that was a lot better than the trailer suggested. I got the feeling that, like many of Zac Efron's films in the past, this one might be aimed at a mainly teenage female audience, but it surprises by actually being a damn decent watch.

Yes there are some fairly large holes in the script. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does not just vanish overnight as it did in this one, but the emotions in this piece felt real and made the film very watchable.

Former "High School Musical" heart throb, Zac Efron, continues to prove that he is not just a pretty face, following his very decent outing in the 2011 "New Years Eve" with the lead as "Logan" in this one. His performance is believable and emotive and hopefully paves the way for more serious roles for this young Californian. He seems to get better with each movie that roles off the production line and may well shortly find that although he has kept his core audience, he is developing a new, slightly older following. I look forward to his next showing and hope that he will soon show more of his unmistakable acting talent.

Taylor Schilling makes another step from the world of TV to take a leading role in only her second big screen outing. Her portrayal of the troubled "Beth" is one of the highlights of the movie, bringing a face to the countless who are left behind from the horrors that is modern day war. Her grasp of the role as a single mother, coming to terms with the loss of her brother in conflict, a domineering and controlling ex husband and her undeniable feelings for "Logan", while still wanting the best for her young son, make this a very enjoyable performance. Look for this talented beauty to do more in the coming years as this is a very good introduction to the big screen.

Hollywood legend Blythe Danner, continues her run in romantic films, following her 2011 "What's Your Number?" with a truly joyous performance as the matriarchal "Ellie" in this one. She brings a lightness to this very serious topic, with some cracking one liners and a twinkle in her eye that made her the perfect one for this reflective role. She is delightful in this film and really does brighten the screen with her presence. The audience almost feels as a naughty chastised child would with some of her disproving looks and its hard to describe just how much she brings to this piece. 

Ten year old Riley Thomas Stewart gives a tremendous performance as "Ben", a confused young man in the middle of a troublesome custody battle, never knowing how to gain approval from his dominant father. This is his first major role in films, but he has graced some of the biggest TV shows in history, including "CSI and House MD", so is no stranger to the limelight. His performance in this one is excellent and shows this young man is a true talent.

The film is very enjoyable, and pays good tribute to the men and women of the armed forces who pay the ultimate price. It is a drama, but has a lightness to it, which will open it up to a far broader audience. Well worth the time you spend on it.

6/10