The Lucky Ones DVD Review

Returning from a tour of duty in Iraq, Sgt Fred Cheaver (Tim Robbins) has retired and Sgt TK Poole (Michael Pena) and Pvt Colee Dunn (Rachel McAdams) are on 30 days leave after being wounded. Fred’s returning to his wife in St Louis, TK’s visiting his fiancée and Colee’s returning her dead boyfriend’s guitar to his family. Arriving at JFK to find all flights cancelled, Fred agrees to share a car rental and drive to St Louis, where the others will catch a plane to Vegas. Bonding ensues.

However, arriving home, Fred’s greeted with some unexpected news that sees the three of them back on the road, looking to realise their hopes (money to pay a son’s college, a cure for impotence, a family) and get their lives (like TK’s wounded manhood) working again.

A comedy-drama road trip buddy movie about self-discovery, friendship, and rediscovering faith and purpose that serves as allegory for the mutual support among soldiers, not a great deal happens and some of the vignettes feel more about padding the running time than narrative necessity.

But, while references to risk and luck are laid on a bit thick and commentary about the ignorance of the war among those back home feels shoehorned in, the film works as a slowly unfolding character study of three flawed but likeable personalities trying to find where they fit in, the nicely measured and unforced performances ensuring that time in their company is well spent.