The Lucky Ones (2008)

The story revolves around three soldiers - Colee, TK and Cheever - who return from the war after suffering injuries and learn that life has moved on without them. They end up on an ... See full summary »

Director:

Neil Burger

Writers:

Neil Burger, Dirk Wittenborn

Stars:

Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, Michael Peña

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rachel McAdams	...	Colee
Tim Robbins	...	Cheaver
Michael Peña	...	TK
Molly Hagan	...	Pat Cheaver
Mark L. Young	...	Scott Cheaver
Howard Platt	...	Stan Tilson
Arden Myrin	...	Barbara Tilson
Coburn Goss	...	Peter Tilson
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

Storyline

The story revolves around three soldiers - Colee, TK and Cheever - who return from the war after suffering injuries and learn that life has moved on without them. They end up on an unexpected road trip across the U.S., with Colee on a mission to bring her boyfriend's guitar back to his family because he saved her life, TK seeking confidence to face his wife after a shrapnel injury that threatens his sexual function and middle-aged Cheever planning to hit the casinos in a desperate effort to pay for his son's college tuition.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | road trip | iraq war | college tuition | guitar | 

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Taglines:

Three strangers with nothing to lose. And everything to find.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 2008 (Canada)

Also Known As:

The Return

Filming Locations:

Alsip, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$183,088 (USA) (26 September 2008)

Gross:

$183,088 (USA) (26 September 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions, QED International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Colee talks of how T.K. and his fiancée should experiment sexually, 'by having another man with her while T.K. watches'. Later on in the film, Cheaver (accidentally) puts himself in exactly that position (having sex with a woman just as her husband enters the room).

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Goofs

Cheaver could not use his $20,000 re-enlistment bonus for his son's tuition. The bonus would be given in increments and would be heavily taxed. He would not get more than $8,000 of that initially.

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Quotes

Fred Cheaver: [T.K. has overcome the wound in his groin] You are one lucky bastard, T.K.

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Crazy Credits

Honey wagon driver - Gary Suckahosee

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Connections

References Brooklyn Rules (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Holding Steady"
Written by Shelly Colvin, Mando Saenz
Performed by Shelly Colvin
Published by Sea Shell by the Seashore Music (ASCAP) / Jack Global Publishing (ASCAP) administered by Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company,
Inc. / Scrambler Music (ASCAP) a division of Carnival Music Group / Absurd Music (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Parallel Entertainment

User Reviews

A Gentleness That Rings True

Three soldiers who have received non life threatening wounds in Iraq are together on a plane to New York. Two of them are on thirty day leaves while the other has served his time and is on his way home. Due to a power outage, all flights out of New York have been canceled. The three agree to rent a car together in order to continue the trip to their destinations. Thus begins a road trip that is highly dramatic with its share of comic events.

Fred Cheaver is the middle aged father figure of the three - a man who never really expected to do anything in the army except serve his domestic reserve duty. He is glad to be rid of the whole thing and is headed home to his wife and son. The two young soldiers who accompany Fred are Colee Dunn and T.K. Poole. Colee is a bright-eyed innocent who is on a mission for a fallen comrade who saved her life. T.K. is a no nonsense soldier from a family of soldiers who plans to make the army his career and move up the chain of command.

Whereas, Fred's quest is to return home to wife and son, Colee's and T.K.'s goals are to travel to Las Vegas for two entirely different reasons. Colee wants to return her dead comrade's treasured guitar to his family. T.K.'s reason is somewhat mysterious, but we know it is related in some way to his injury that has left him temporarily impotent.

As with all road trip films, the experiences and interactions of these three lead to conclusions not expected by them or the viewers.

Unlike most films featuring vets returning from the horrors of war, this film is not filled with dark angst - not to say the characters are not well-fleshed and genuine. These three are real people with real problems, but their depictions are not heavy-handed.

During this film, the viewer gets to enjoy the work of three excellent actors. Tim Robbins gives his usual fine, understated performance as the older man facing some totally unexpected twists of fate. Rachel McAdams gives Colee a likable innocence but also reveals some darker layers of her character. Michael Peña is very, very good as the macho guy with a heart who only wants to be a good soldier. Watching these three interact is a real treat.

Some may consider the treatment of the subject matter of this film too light handed, but it has a gentleness that rings true. It is surely worth watching.