Collegiate Times

I'm just going to dive into this review today because there’s no point in putting off what I’m about to say. “The Lucky One” is riddled with cliches, bad acting and an offensively boring plot. Don’t see it unless you want to waste $10 and two hours of your life.

Going into this movie, I knew I probably wouldn’t like it. “The Lucky One” is based off a book by Nicholas Sparks, which already sent up red flags. Though I somewhat enjoyed “The Notebook” in the ninth grade, no other film adaptation of Sparks’ sickeningly sweet novels have translated well on screen. In fact, the few other movies I’ve seen of his had me laughing out loud at parts meant to be serious.

Reviewing movies each week is something I enjoy doing. Even if new releases on a particular weekend aren’t something I’d normally see, I like how I am forced to branch out once in a while.

This weekend, I was stuck between a documentary on chimps and “The Lucky One.” I now regret not seeing Disney’s “Chimpanzee,” which no doubt, tries to make every member of the audience cry at some point.

So what’s so bad about “The Lucky One”? Well, to start off, think of every annoying love story cliche ever and roll them into about 25 music montages. That was essentially this
movie. 

A marine named Logan (Zac Efron) finds a picture of an American woman somewhere in Iraq. 

After trying to locate its owner and failing, he decides to pocket it. He carries this picture around as he completes his third tour and calls it his lucky picture. 

What is also lucky is how attractive the girl is and how easy it is for him to track her down after he gets back to the United States.

All he wants to do is meet this sexy single mom and to thank her for being his lucky charm. Instead, he turns up at her dog kennel and gets a job. 

Cue the gushy music. At first she hates him because she thinks he is a weird drifter, and then she likes him. 

And just when you think they’ve gone to far, her crazy, abusive ex-husband — who also happens to be the town’s sheriff — enters the picture.

I feel I’ve given too much away, but this only constitutes the first 20 minutes. 

The other 120 minutes include random side plots that are never wrapped up and montages of Logan and his lover cavorting in fields and lakes, laughing about some joke we as the audience are never let in on. 

My guess is they are laughing because they’re getting paid a comical amount of money to read one cheesy line after another.

Yes, I am not the world’s biggest fan of “chick flicks.” I avoid them when I can, and when I do see one, it’s because I’m with friends that insist on watching it.

That being said, I do try to go in with an open mind. Sometimes I’m even surprised to find myself enjoying one. 

However, even the biggest lover of romantic comedies would be disappointed by “The Lucky One.”

I’ve never read the book — and after this experience, I don’t plan to — but I honestly don’t know how producers let this movie reach mainstream audiences. 

Sometimes a cliche plot can be remedied by excellent acting or ninjas, but unfortunately, both are missing from this movie.

If you are still planning on seeing “The Lucky One,” don’t do it. Those who have not seen this are the lucky ones. You have been warned.

A version of this article appeared in the Apr 24 issue of the Collegiate Times.