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Rachel McAdams works through the pain in "The Lucky Ones"From the Queen of Mean Regina George, to the saucy 1940’s beauty Allie Hamilton, Rachel McAdams is an actress who can generally get me to watch just about anything — even a Rob Schneider movie.
But when I read about her latest release, The Lucky Ones, I worried it would fall into the slew of weird Iraq War movies popping up recently (with really awful, new-metal soundtracks). After watching the trailer, though (which fortunately features a Sarah McLachlan song rather than Kid Rock), I found myself actually wanting to check it out.
McAdams joins a cast including Tim Robbins and Michael Peña as Colee, an injured Iraq War vet heading to Las Vegas to return her boyfriend’s guitar to his family after he dies in the war. She ends up in an impromptu road trip across the country with two strangers, as they all realize that, despite their injuries and absence, the world has gone on without them. In Roger Ebert’s review of the movie, he points out that McAdams is generally seen as “a hot chick” (see the aforementioned Rob Schneider film, The Hot Chick) or “idealized sweetheart,” but viewers may see her “come into her own” in this film: [In The Lucky Ones] she is feisty, vulnerable, plucky, warm, funny. This is her coming of age as an actress. She provides yet another lesson that you can't judge acting ability until you see an actor given a chance to really stretch. The trailer definitely shows some of the feisty. When a girl mocks Colee’s leg injury at a party, she throws quite the punch, and she looks damn good doing it. Colee wears little to no makeup and rocks plain tank tops. Her Southern drawl and slight limp may be an attempt to make her appear less hot than in previous roles, but it fails miserably. McAdams can wear a poncho and flip-flops and still be smokin’. She pulls off being a “real” American girl more than most actresses can — and she's Canadian. The Lucky Ones opens tonight, and I plan on checking it out. It’s the first of the Iraq War movies that seems to focus on the characters’ relationships and not the director’s political agenda. And then there’s that whole McAdams in tank tops thing. That Ryan Gosling is a lucky man. Have you seen any soldier-after-the-Iraq-War movies that may be worth a view? Submitted by on September 26, 2008 - 5:00pm. |
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Hmm
Ah, the Hot Chick, seen some of that once or twice (skipped most of the Rob Schneider parts)...
As for the new movie, The Lucky Ones, without having seen it, or the Jessica Biel post-Iraq movie, Home of the Brave, they sound awfully similar. And again, without seeing either, I imagine The Lucky Ones is a whole lot better...
Rachel McAdams!
Ditch The Multi-Plex
I adore Rachel McAdams (and Tim Robbins), so I'll probably stroll into my local indie theatre and give it a chance. It's gotten pretty good reviews from what I've read about this week's releases.
But really, it'll be a welcome distraction to tide me over until The Time Traveler's Wife opens up.
i cant wait for that either!!
Agree.
Agree.
from a n iraq vet
most movies about OIF and OEF are VERY unrealistic the only one i've seen so far that was as close to home as possible was Stop-loss and i think that movie was so accurate because it was written by a soldier which alot of people dont know. This movie looks like its got potential to be good but out of all the movies that have been made I don't really have high hopes. The thing is though there will never be a movie like saving private ryan based on this war, its just not that kinda war anymore and the soldiers of this generation are no where near the same as the soldiers of the past war generations.
Woo. Canadians!
Make the Canadians proud girl! :)
if every word i said, could make you laugh, i'd talk forever...
home of the brave
Sounds like a good one. I
Rachel McAdams
Rocks my world!! Cant wait for this one.
And even though I'm not big on war movies, I loved 'In the Valley of Elah'. Definitely has an anti-war message, but it's not your typical soldier film. Tommy Lee is amazing, and Charlize Theron playing a detective didn't hurt either.
Great article, cheers :D
Haha when I saw the trailer
Haha when I saw the trailer for this I thought the exact same thing - oh, they're trying to make McAdams less hot. Oh... really not working. Especially the tank top + the badass punching. ;)
This is at 33% on RottenTomatoes and the consensus is "features heartfelt performances but is undone by the plot's overwrought parade of coincidences and contrivance." I can see that, but if the performances are heartfelt it might still be worth watching.
The lovely Rachel McAdams...
I have been a big fan of hers since "The Notebook" and "Red Eye", I always knew she had the acting chops, not just the looks. I saw "Stop-Loss", "Home of the Brave", "Lions for Lambs" and "In the Valley of Elah", to name a few recent Iraq war movies. I know most people in this country are bored to death with the war, because it isn't fun, and most people just want to party and have fun and forget that there is even a war going on. What a huge difference between this generation and my generation. When the Vietnam War was going on, everybody knew about it, talked about it, cared about it, and did something to make it end. Now, hardly anybody gives a damn.
If an actress like Rachel McAdams can make a few people wake up and realize that this war has to end, then she has done her job and then some. Wake up people, this is a real war, not a party.
It's playing in limited theaters
I saw it!!! It is definitely Rachel McAdams' BEST movie so far. She stretched herself and made a character completely human and lovable. She could be your sister, your friend, your girlfriend, anything when she is playing this role. She reminded me of so many people I know, but still had that Rachel charm that I will NEVER get over. Trust me on this one. See this movie.
There are some VERY funny lines plus it has the realness of watching three normal every day people go through four days in their life together. Very realistic. (Most of it.)
Go see it!!!
Are you feelin' what I'm flingin'?
Sorry!
Double post. :)
Looks Good
This movie looks like it'll be a good one. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
I showed one of my roommates the trailer and she said that it wasn't realistic that Rachel McAdams was playing that character. I asked, "Why? Because she's pretty? Women who go to war can't be attractive?" but I got no response. I can only assume that's it.
the trailer looks promising,
the trailer looks promising, but hey i was already going to see it as soon as you said Rachel McAdams.
cause the best thing in life is chicks
can't wait...
to see it!!!
I love Rachel McAdams, especially when she played the smart-ass in 'The Family Stone' soo sexy!!!
been there done that