The Lucky Ones

R

Released Sep 26, 2008

1 hr. 55 min.

Drama

List

38%

74 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Stuck at a closed airport while on leave from Iraq War service, soldiers Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams), Fred Cheaver (Tim Robbins) and T.K. Poole (Michael Peña) decide to carpool to get to their far-off destinations. Colee wants to visit with her late fiancé's family, while wounded T.K. longs to see his future wife and Fred, needing fast cash to send his son to college, is headed for a casino. During the journey, the soldiers forge a bond based on their uncertain futures.

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Critics Consensus

The Lucky Ones features heartfelt performances, but is undone by the plot's overwrought parade of coincidence and contrivance.

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Vanessa A

As much as I love history and these types of shows, the fact that 1/2 of the movie is in the dark really ruined it for me. Otherwise I would have loved it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

Full Review

Nanci F

These things actually happened to these people. It may seem too coincidental to some critics but it actually happened. These people were strong a courageous. Their lives, their love ones were horribly taken and yet they survived and thrived. It is the resilience of the Jewish people embodied in the Kurc family

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/08/24

Full Review

Gaylord R

I am so tired of reading reviews written by wannabee critics who seem to love finding some little flaw somewhere so they can prove that they are really "critics". I, on the other hand, am not a jaded, faded pseudo-intellectual, I am an enthusiastic fan of darn good, out-of-the-world true to life films which do no pretend to be either drama, or comedy, or any genre but rather mirror life as it unfolds in its myriad forms of hilarity, sadness, hope, disappointment, ludicrousness, and redemption. The Lucky Ones is a film that has it all, superb writing, amazing chemistry, scenery, camera work, you name it. It entertains, but it enlightens more.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Emil T

In Neil Burger's third career feature, Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption), Michael Pena (Crash), and Rachel McAdams (The Notebook) play injured soldiers who temporarily return home from Iraq, only to realize life wasn't quite the same as when they left it. Robbins is Cheaver, a veteran soldier who discovers that his wife (Molly Hagan) wants a divorce from the man she's become accustomed to living without for the last two years, while his son (Mark L. Young) is in dire need of twenty grand to pay for a Stanford education. Pena is T.K., a sergeant who suffers a shrapnel injury in his "private area" and is unable to function properly, so to speak, while Adams plays a flakey militant named Colee, desperate to get her late boyfriend's $20,000 guitar home to his unexpecting family. The dense misfits keep each other company on a tiresome road trip, first to St. Louis, and then to Vegas, where the informal strangers fleetingly diverge, only to randomly collide once again. Too many "as if" moments left me pouncing for the fast forward button, as this predictable and tedious film offered up nothing but been-there/done-that cinema. As the butchered script (by Burger and Dirk Wittenborn) bled onto screen, even the daffy charm of the stunning McAdams couldn't save this bargain bin flop. Aside from a few LOL scenes (like when Colee suggests to T.K. that he substitute a life-like dildo for his unfunctional...you know) The Lucky Ones should have been--and almost was--a direct-to-video venture that did nothing for three acclaimed thespians who have each had there shining moments on the silver screen. But even the best of 'em are allowed a temporary lack of judgement...or maybe they just needed a paycheque?! *This review was originally written in 2009.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/13/21

Full Review

steve d

Some strong performances help an interesting script and compelling characters. I thought it was heartfelt and fun.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Bad story line. Acting is Ok. Ending horrible. Is there a letter for suck-so-bad? LOL! F- Infinity. HA!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

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Neil Burger

Director

Rachel McAdams

Colee

Tim Robbins

Cheaver

Michael Peña

TK

Molly Hagan

Pat Cheaver

Mark L. Young

Scott Cheaver

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Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

Rated: 2/4

Nov 24, 2011

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 1/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

The Iraq war has thus far produced no truly memorable dramatic movies, as opposed to documentaries, and the losing streak continues with The Lucky Ones.

Rated: C

Sep 29, 2008

Full Review

Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

It feels like it secretly wants to be a Iraq vet version [ of Y tu Mama Tambien] but is afraid to go there.

Dec 16, 2017

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A cautious but strained apolitical Iraqi War drama.

Rated: C+

Jun 3, 2017

Full Review

Martin Tsai

Critic's Notebook

Mostly everything in the film, regardless of how contrived the set up, eventually rings true.

Oct 7, 2015

Full Review

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Synopsis

Stuck at a closed airport while on leave from Iraq War service, soldiers Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams), Fred Cheaver (Tim Robbins) and T.K. Poole (Michael Peña) decide to carpool to get to their far-off destinations. Colee wants to visit with her late fiancé's family, while wounded T.K. longs to see his future wife and Fred, needing fast cash to send his son to college, is headed for a casino. During the journey, the soldiers forge a bond based on their uncertain futures.

Director: Neil Burger
Executive Producer: Adam Merims, Bill Block, Paul Hanson, Steffen Aumueller, Claus Clausen, Elliot Ferwerda, Marina Grasic, Jan Korbelin, Tom Ortenberg, Said Boudarga, Brian McCormack
Screenwriter: Neil Burger, Dirk Wittenborn
Distributor: Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Sony Pictures, Lionsgate Films, QED International, Roadside Attractions
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $183.1K

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