Film review: The Lucky One

When I heard that Zac Efron was playing a marine who has served three tours of duty in Iraq in The Lucky One (Rialto) I rolled my eyes because Efron is famous for his ability to look high school-young. But then I remembered the song that told us the average age of American soldiers in Vietnam was 19 and my guess is that not a lot has changed.

Director: Scott Hicks
Cast: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner, Riley Thomas Stewart, Jay R Ferguson, Adam LeFevre, Robert Hayes
Rating: M
3 stars (out of 5)

Efron's character Logan is 25 so it is not that hard a stretch. Efron even worked on that stiff marine bearing so you can buy into him being a battle-hardened veteran.

What makes or breaks The Lucky One is your tolerance for soft-focus romance.

It is based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks and is clearly modelling itself on his most successful movie adaptation The Notebook.

So, if you loved The Notebook, as many did, this is a good thing and you will go away happy. However, if hearing someone declaim "you should be kissed every day, every hour, every minute" makes you feel ill, this is not the film for you.

In Iraq, Logan found a photo of a pretty blonde woman, which became his talisman.

When he returns stateside, he decides to seek her out and thank her.

Beth (Taylor Schilling) has her own baggage but somehow these two lost souls are meant to be together. You will need tissues.

Best thing: Everything looks so gosh darn beautiful you want to high tail it to North Carolina immediately.

Worst thing: Nicholas Sparks may sweat bullets writing these things, but they sure feel like he is on autopilot to me.

See it with: A hens' night out. You may not be going home to Zac Efron but you can pretend for a few hours.

- By Christine Powley