OK for kids 14+
Sweet but formulaic love story OK for teen romantics.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that, like other romances based on Nicholas Sparks novels -- including The Last Song, Dear John, and The Notebook -- The Lucky One is filled with swoony, sentimental moments involving a pair of star-crossed lovers kept apart by their life challenges and personal struggles. Expect some gauzy love scenes (mostly kissing and early stage undressing -- no private parts are seen, though the top of a male backside is visible); infrequent swearing ("s--t," etc.), some drinking by adults, some tense scenes of peril and confrontation, and jarring-but-not-graphic wartime scenes in which grenades explode and soldiers are shot dead. Although the movie means well overall, it does suggest that women need the love of a good man to be able to love themselves.
- Families can talk about why romantic movies often seem to have female characters who can't seem to find their strength and center without first falling in love. What's the message here?
- How does The Lucky One depict romance and relationships? Do you think it's realistic/accurate?
- What is the movie saying about the toll that war takes on soldiers?
The good stuff
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Messages: The Lucky One promotes the ideas that struggles don't have to define you and that you must learn to stand up for yourself. Also, that love heals, that family bonds are very powerful, and that loyalty matters. But it also perpetuates the notion that women, no matter how capable, need the love of a good man to be able to love themselves.
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Role models: Almost all of the characters, even the one obviously pitched as the "bad guy," have a soft side. Logan is kind, earnest, and principled, and -- despite some nightmares and sadness -- appears generally intact after the war. Beth is a caring mother and daughter. Together, they're a beacon of niceness.
What to watch for
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Violence: Gunfight in the middle of a war, with some soldiers shot dead. Innocent bystanders also die. Explosions in war zones. The war scenes in general feel menacing. An abusive man stalks his ex-wife and threatens her when she doesn't give into his demands. Later, he gets into a fight with another man and brandishes a gun at him. A harrowing scene shows people about to fall into a raging river during a storm.
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Sex: Couples kiss passionately in the shower and in a bedroom while they remove each other's clothing (shot in close-ups that don't show private parts); sex is implied on more than one occasion. One scene depicts the woman with her hand down the back of a man's pants, with the upper part of his backside showing.
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Language: Relatively infrequent use of words including "s--t," "damn," "hell," "goddamn," and "ass."
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Consumerism: An iPod is seen, as is a Mitsubishi car.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Adults drink on dates and at social functions. The movie's bad guy gets drunk and starts a fight with another man. Beth gets a little tipsy during a date.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
FELL IN LOVE WITH "THE LUCKY ONE"!!! by TXmoviemom
I am a HUGE Zac Efron fan, so I will admit, that's why I went to see the movie..but I do LOVE Nicholas Sparks and "The Notebook" is my all time favorite movie. I was instantly drawn into this movie within the first 5 minutes. It's so up to date, with the war in Iraq, reminded me of "Dear John." It was a beautiful love story, with a beautiful setting. Blythe Danner is terrific as "Nana". I loved the chemistry between Zac and Taylor. I mean, Look at him! HE IS GORGEOUS!!!!!!! WHO COULD RESIST HIM AND THOSE BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT'S A MUST GO FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!
5
pretty good by susannasmovies
I loved the movie. Granted, it was different from the book...but I've come to expect that with movies. It's definitely a movie for girls, but that's no surprise as it is a Nicholas Sparks book. It's definitely a movie for adults as there are a few sex scenes that are inappropriate for kids and younger teens. I would definitely recommend this as a date movie or a girls night out.
5
Wonderful date movie by PBPmovielover
I read the original book first and couldn't have imagined the characters or setting any better than what was portrayed in this movie. Zac Efron was wonderful! Very romantic! The type of guy every woman dreams of. He's strong, muscular, sexy, brave, and protective (in a good way). Definitely not for kids with the steamy sex scenes but for every one over 18....GO SEE IT! Guys probably won't like it because they won't be able to live up to the romance.
5
The Lucky One by owetter
Awesome movie! Definitely a chick flick. I may have just liked it because I am IN LOVE with Zac Effron :) The movie is different than the book in many ways but still very satisfying!
4
Book Lover Surprise by alixveronica89
The movie was great, but it was (surprise) a lot different from the book! The first scenes from the book that took more time to read through and which were strategically planned out were breezed through in the movie and made shorter, and before you know it your in the chapter where the heat is turned up (those scenes were much longer, of course...not that I mind). Zac Effron has certainly matured. Altogether, I enjoyed it :)
5
ACES by lvegas
I expected this movie to be good with the cast. It exceeded my expectations!! It was a great story. The story and acting was right on!
4
Great Love Story by kristywhiskey
I took my teenage daughters and we all loved it.
While it is not as good as The Notebook or Water for Elephants it was a great MUST SEE CHICK FLICK!!
4
Another successful Nicholas Sparks book to movie conversion by Darkola
If your a fan of former movies of Nicholas Sparks books, like Dear John, and The Notebook, then you will of course be a fan of this movie. I have not read this book, so I really cant compare the movie to it, but I did go with my wife(her turn for a chick flick), and found this movie to be a very good movie, it kept my attention, the story was a good story, although there is a far stretch of the imagination to think he would ever really find her, that aside it was a good story, the acting was very good, and will say it was worth the price of admission. I'd give this movie 2 1/2 out of 4 stars myself, only because I feel movies like this can really be made for TV, as I have seen equally good movies on tv, and am sure there was no real expense of anything over the top to make this anything exceptional, or to stand it out amongst other movies playing at the show, so if your all cought up on your movies, and want to make the wife/girlfriend happy, or just like love stories, then go see it
4
Romantic by MissSocom10108
Very romantic and all and all good movie. Seemed to take forever between events of something happening, If you have the patience for that, youll probably rate it a 5.
4
A good love stroy by jeanne_rogers
I enjoyed the movie because I love a good love story. Zac Efron is great. I recommend this movie to those who like Nicholas Sparks and also enjoyed The Notebook.