'The Lucky Ones' review

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On leave for a month but unable to snag a flight, soldiers TK (Michael Pena) and Colee (Rachel McAdams) decide to road trip with Cheever (Tim Robbins), who just completed his last tour of duty. Their journey takes them across the country to deal with relationship woes, war-related injuries and a number of questionably toned detours dealing with everything from suicidal thoughts to horny married women.

Big question: Can director/co-writer Neil Burger ("The Illusionist") make this dramedy both light when it's meant to be funny and subtle when the tough stuff sets in?

Skip it: If "The Lucky Ones" wants to seem like anything more than war vets thrust into a sitcom, it should try going five minutes without a contrivance. The always-intriguing angle of how soldiers adjust during time at home doesn't stand a chance against convenient run-ins with generous millionaires and sex workers or made for TV one-liners like TK explaining that you have to have a good head of hair to run for office.

Catch it: If you think your relationship is built on nothing. TK says if he and his fiancé can't have sex, "she and I got nothing to talk about." Ouch.

Bottom line: The script doesn't mean business but the actors do, with McAdams in particular finding the depth of experience, fear and doubt that weigh on Colee's shoulders. Otherwise the movie's a well-intentioned lemon, which won't move very far no matter how badly it wants to.

Bonus: Colee informs the others that if you drink alcohol through a straw, you get drunker. Anyone up for some hands-on testing?

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