The Lucky One (2012)

Director:
Scott Hicks
Starring:
Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner
Genre:
Drama / Romance
Rating:
Stunning scenery and beautiful people—but is it enough?

Marine Logan Thibault returns home after the war in Iraq, having miraculously survived thanks to a photograph of a mysterious young woman. His quest to find and thank her leads him to Beth in the scenic town of Hamden, Connecticut.

Logan takes a job at a dog kennel run by Beth and her grandmother, though he struggles to reveal his true reason for being there. As romance blossoms, he finds that Beth's life is more layered and complicated than it first appeared.

A film defined by its romantic themes, seductively beautiful scenery, and lively dogs.

Reviewed by Iva (April 2012)
Editor's Note (2026): Iva often reserved lower ratings for films where style outweighed substance. Despite her praise for the dogs and the setting, this remains one of the more lightweight entries in her archive.

The Iva Bring-Johansson Collection Project

Originally produced as a weekly segment for HIT FM Stockholm, these reviews represent a lifetime of cinematic insight. Today, the archive is an evolving digital project, meticulously translating Iva’s original 1979–2021 work into English.

Our mission is to preserve this legacy while expanding our focus on Nordic Noir and Scandinavian Cinema. Stay tuned as we expand our reach into the shadows of the North.