This movie is everything you wanted and more from a Nicolas Sparks inspired movie...I had butterflies smile from the love, tears from the heart break and I was holding my breath at some of the surprising suspenseful moments.
Zac Efron plays a marine veteran who served three tours for Operation Iraqi Freedom. After returning home and being greeted by his dog Zeus who stays with him the whole movie (be warned I am a dog lover and after seeing a moment like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysKAVyXi0J4 how can your heart not melt?)."Logan" decides he needs to leave his sister’s house and seek out the girl who was his guardian angel on his last tour, fulfilling a promise to his best friend who he lost in combat..
Beth, the guardian angel played by Taylor Schilling, is a small town girl who runs a dog kennel in Louisiana with her grandmother. Beth is a single mom who is recently divorced to a small-town sheriff whose father is also a judge AND running for mayor (hello ex-husband drama.) Beth finds herself between a rock and a hard spot when she needs to do what’s best for herself and her son. Kudos to Sparks for making the female lead a strong yet sensitive woman who is a great mother!
Nana (Blythe Danner) is Beth's backbone and calls her out when she is wrong and tests her when she needs too. She does what every grandmother does...pushes you to the full potential that she sees when you just don't realize it's in there.
The themes that run through the movie seem to touch base with many different people in the audience whether you know or have lost someone in military service, have parents who are divorced, have gone through a struggle, been picked on at school or just needed someone to lean on....its relatable and accessible but not intrusive and that's what makes it good!
The lessons are pretty straight forward follow your destiny, do what's best for yourself and your family, don't be afraid to take a chance on someone and just see what life has in store for you.
Regarding the PG-13 rating, Logan and Beth share some VERY PASSIONATE moments which are not appropriate for a 13 year old. There was never any full nudity but the audience can tell exactly what they're doing. I would be very uncomfortable sitting next to a 13-year old during The Lucky One.
I would recommend this movie for girls from the age of 15 to 102. Also, girls could drag a guy to this movie and I don’t think they would be disappointed!
THE LUCKY ONE will be a movie that I would buy on DVD and watch on a rainy afternoon for years to come!
