It feels like it secretly wants to be a Iraq vet version [ of Y tu Mama Tambien] but is afraid to go there.

| Dec 16, 2017

A cautious but strained apolitical Iraqi War drama.

| Original Score: C+ | Jun 3, 2017

Mostly everything in the film, regardless of how contrived the set up, eventually rings true.

| Oct 7, 2015

| Original Score: 2/4 | Nov 24, 2011

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Nov 17, 2011

Their real, unstated missions are more in the nature of relocating their souls and finding some elusive peace of mind.

| Aug 15, 2011

... captures the manner in which both the smallest and largest events on a road trip can build a sense of camaraderie among three strangers with very little in common.

Full Review | Feb 26, 2010

If not for the warmth and likability of its characters and those playing them, The Lucky Ones would be a tiresome formula picture.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 18, 2009

It feels like the writers were trying for dialogue that sounded natural and improvisational. Instead, it feels scripted and rehearsed. It's all phony balony!

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Oct 6, 2008

Ultimately I was left without any clear notion as to what was being said through the film and why.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 30, 2008

In this interview, The Lucky Ones director Neil Burger speaks about understanding the modern soldier, his surprising casting choice of anti-war activist Tim Robbins as a veteran and why he relates the story while the Iraq conflict continues.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 30, 2008

War/road trip dramedy is cliched but affecting.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 29, 2008

The Iraq war has thus far produced no truly memorable dramatic movies, as opposed to documentaries, and the losing streak continues with The Lucky Ones.

| Original Score: C | Sep 29, 2008

The direction is functional, workmanlike; Burger never steals the spotlight from his characters.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 29, 2008

The biggest disappointment is in this script, written by Dirk Wittenborn and Neil Burger who gave us the delightful Illusionistin 2006.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 27, 2008

... reductive and unfunny ... think Coming Home crossed with Vegas Vacation minus Cousin Eddie ...

| Original Score: 78/100 | Sep 27, 2008

...benefits substantially from the strength and charisma of its three leads...

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 27, 2008

Rachel McAdams keeps reminding me how good she is in every role she takes. In this movie, she just glows energy. Acting is one thing. How do you project energy? Through joy, anger and curiosity, she projects this vibe and she is the backbone of the film.

| Sep 26, 2008

Based on the evidence here, director/co-writer Neil Burger may be the last American who's ambivalent about the Iraq War, and his movie suffers for it.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Sep 26, 2008

While their circumstances may be forced, the three characters feel like real, complex, likable people. That's a real rarity in a film about veterans, no matter what the ideology is.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 26, 2008