THE LUCKY ONE

US, 2012, 101 minutes, Colour.
Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner, Riley Thomas Stewart, Jay R. Ferguson, Adam Le Fevre.
Directed by Scott Hicks.

For over twenty years, audiences have enjoyed the emotional and romantic film versions of novels by Nicholas Sparks. They range from Message in a Bottle to The Last Song, a star vehicle for Miley Cyrus. The most popular has been The Notebook. The recent Dear John had a war theme. So does The Lucky One.

Opening in Iraq with an ambush and deaths, the film sets a contemporary tone. Logan (Zac Efron) survives, especially when he notices a photo in the rubble and picks it up, just missing being killed by an explosive device. He is nervous during convalescence with his sister and her children and decides to identify the lighthouse in the photo – which takes him to Louisiana.

All might have been simple had he been able to explain why he had come. The woman in the photo, Beth (a sympathetic Taylor Schilling) thinks he is odd but her feisty mother (Blythe Danner) hires Logan to work in their business of walking and caring for dogs (something of a treat for dog-loving audiences). Beth is divorced from the local policeman, son of the local mayor, who has spent his life trying to match his father’s expectations, and not succeeding. She also has a son.

As expected, Logan bonds with the son, works hard with the dogs, lives a quiet and reflective life, falls in love with Beth and is threatened by the husband. As expected, there has to be something of a crisis when Beth learns the truth about Logan. This is more melodramatic than anticipated.

As with Sparks’ other stories, there is a special communication that is at the core of the story whether it be a message in a bottle, a notebook, letters to Dear John, a song or, in this case, the original photo and another which leads to some kind of reconciliation and peace.

Zac Efron is very nice and gets audience sympathy and the hope that there will be a happy ending, which, of course, is the natural outcome of this kind of wide-audience-friendly film.
1. Nicholas Sparks, the popularity of his novels? Expectations of adaptations? Romantic, emotional? Contemporary? The popular style of storytelling and characterisation? Popular issues?

2. The background of Iraq, the 21st century marines, their experiences, fighting, ambushes, deaths, comrades? Idealised?

3. Louisiana, the roads, the town, the bayous, homes, the church? Realistic atmosphere? The musical score? The songs?

4. The dogs and the setting, for dog-lovers, the range of dogs, training, walking them?

5. The title, Logan and his finding the picture, surviving, wanting to meet Beth? Lucky to meet Beth? Lucky to meet Ben?

6. The battle scenes, night, the ambush, the deaths, Aces and his going to his man and being killed – and the later information from Logan to Beth? The daylight, Logan picking up the photo, the explosion behind him? In the vehicle, talking to his friend, the explosion and his friend’s death?

7. Zac Efron as Logan, his screen presence, his appearance, his eyes? Introverted, introspective? Quiet, reading, loving philosophy? His family tradition of joining the marines? The effect on him, post-traumatic stress? Trying to cope? Visiting his sister, the nephews and their playing war games, rousing him and his fears? His leaving?

8. The computer, identifying the place of the lighthouse, walking from Colorado to Louisiana, asking about Beth and the photo, finding her, the interview, her wariness?

9. Setting up in the old house, walking the dogs, fixing the roofs, starting the tractor, repairing the boat?

10. Beth, the story of her parents’ death in the car accident, her father as a vet? The boat? Her attachment to her brother, close in growing up, looked after by their nana? His death, the mystery of what happened to him in Iraq, grief? The later visit to the cemetery? Her running, her missing out on college, her pregnancy, marrying Keith? Discovering the truth about him? The marriage failing? Her love for Ben, devoted, care? At school – her teaching in the past? Her way with the children? The possibility of her returning to teach? Ben and his playing the violin? His age, the eighth birthday, the celebration? His skill at chess, playing with Logan? Giving him the book to read? His love for his father, the outings with him, measuring up to his demands, the injury at sport? Keith and his thinking that Beth pampered her son? His wanting him to be macho?

11. Keith as a character, dominated by his father, his father as mayor? The behaviour at the garden party, the father and his low opinion of his son? Keith and his criticising Logan? His love for Ben, his threats to Beth, to take Ben away? The meal with his family?

12. Logan, his work, eating the meal with the family, playing chess, being beaten, his playing the piano, Ben hearing him? The bond between the two? Logan with Beth, his inability to tell a joke, the promise of a beer, their going out, sharing, the boat? The deputy holding them up at Keith’s request?

13. Ellie, strong, in the choir, drinking, her wise comments, her urging Beth on?

14. Keith, his father, the antagonism, his not wanting his son to be weak? In the church, hearing him play the violin? His dislike of Logan, threatening him, going into the house, finding the photo? Going to see Beth? His presumption about friendly fire?

15. Beth, her love for Logan, Logan as gentle with her, the possibilities?

16. Her discussions with Keith, the photo, her interpretation? Logan and his explanation? Her inability to accept it, emotionally? Ben overhearing it?

17. Logan, Keith and the gun, Logan taking it from him, humiliating him? Keith going to his father, his turning in his badge?

18. Logan, finding the photo of Aces, realising that he knew what had happened? Going to the house to tell Beth?

19. Keith, Ben running away, the storm, going to the river, going to the tree house? Crossing the bridge, Ben and his being stranded, Keith and his attempts to help his son, Logan coming, rescuing Ben? Unable to help Keith? The tree house falling, Keith going down the river?

20. The aftermath, Beth and her appreciation of Logan? Ellie? The bonds between them? A future? Seeing them on the boat on the bayou as a family?

21. The popularity of this kind of storytelling characterisation, less sophisticated – and for the widest possible audience?