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In the schmaltzy film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ “The Lucky One,” Zac Efron tries again to convince us he’s shed his teenybopper image, but really convinces us those are the type of roles he should probably choose in the future.
It was only three and a half years ago when a floppy-haired Efron was dancing and singing his way across the screen in “High School Musical 3.” His next performance was playing a middle-aged man given a second chance at high school in “17 Again.” Two years ago he was a young man who lost his kid brother in “Charlie St. Cloud.”
In “The Lucky One,” a filled-out Efron plays Logan Thibault, a 1st Sergeant Marine serving in Iraq. One morning, after a night raid, Logan spies a picture of a woman amongst the rubble and walks over to retrieve it. At that moment, a bomb explodes directly under where he was formerly standing, killing the rest of his team. Logan considers this woman to be his guardian angel as he escapes subsequent near-death experiences, and when he arrives home in Colorado after his third tour, he’s determined to find her.
In romantic fashion, he ambitiously walks all the way to Louisiana, and after a little investigating, learns the woman in the picture is Beth Clayton (newcomer Taylor Schilling), the owner of a modest dog kennel. Despite the fact he crossed several states to get there, on foot nonetheless, she assumes he’s there for the open position of kennel worker, and Logan, unable to get the right words out, accepts the job.
Drama ensues as Beth’s ex (Jay R. Ferguson) threatens to take their son away due to “drifter” Logan’s influence. In spite of all this, Logan and Beth begin to fall in love, with the big secret of Logan’s military history looming over their relationship. Developing from a Sparks novel, the film is predictable from this point on.
Efron deserves credit for trying to establish himself as a serious actor, but if that’s really what he’s looking to do, a Nicholas Sparks adaptation isn’t the way to go. He’s tough to buy as a Marine, but, most importantly, he’s tough to buy as Logan. Efron does best when he’s allowed to smile and charm; he even proved he can do the occasional emotional scene in “17 Again.” Yet Efron’s interpretation of serious acting is standing there and glowering, which is hard to do given his boyish looks and baby blue eyes.
Schilling is convincingly sweet in her role as a mother, but her pairing with Efron seems a bit forced, despite the fact they’re both beautiful actors. Blythe Danner steals every scene she’s in as Beth’s grandmother Ellie, not to be outdone by Beth’s adorable son Ben (Riley Thomas Stewart), who has more on-screen chemistry with Efron than Schilling ever does. Efron seems most natural in these scenes, whether he’s helping Ben practice the violin or trying, and failing, to beat the kid at chess.
It’s not necessarily Efron’s fault the movie doesn’t work – the script itself is rather weak. However, while Efron usually owns the screen with a natural, easygoing charm, we never see it on display in this film, with Efron instead attempting to show his dramatic chops by mawkishly glowering throughout much of the film. Without the energy to carry the film, “The Lucky One” is an unfortunate venture for Efron and filmgoers alike.
