The Lucky One sees Zac Efron offer himself to fans as Logan Thibault, a marine returning from 3 tours of duty in Iraq to seek a more peaceful way of life. He follows the trail of a girl he’s seen only in a photograph, who works in Louisiana dog kennels, to try and escape the horrors of war he left behind and find this woman he credits with his safe return home.
Adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel, predictably the requisite amount of slushy romance followed which, despite reducing my companion to tears, did little to please my ever growing hunger for the plot to develop. Despite stand out performances from the ever humourous Blythe Danner and Taylor Shilling, who shines as a leading woman, one is left little in doubt that Zac will triumph against all odds to get his girl. Though this might be okay for some, my somewhat cynical viewing eye was left with a bittersweet feeling that not even an entire tub of Ben & Jerry’s could quell. If this film achieves in one area, it is the lush Louisiana backdrop which perfectly screams rom-com as well as providing some interest beyond Efron’s tortured visage and highly toned torso. Though the largely female audience seemed pleased by the end, all the film left me with was a slight headache from all the ice cream.