This is a wonderful road movie focusing on veterans making their way across the United States. After returning from Iraq, three soldiers find themselves unexpectedly brought together at JFK airport in New York City because of flight delays caused by a power outage. One soldier is leaving the military permanently (played by Timothy Robbins), another is dealing with a significant injury to his groin and attempting to recover (Michael Pena), and the third is taking time off to visit the family of a fallen friend (Rachel McAdams). They end up in a rental car, traveling across the country and encountering various aspects of American life while also uncovering each other's most private struggles, dreams, and sorrows. "The Lucky Ones," released in 2008, is really an undiscovered treasure. I began watching it without high hopes, but quickly realized I had found something special. The three leads have a remarkable connection, and Rachel McAdams, who I hadn't previously seen in film, delivers a truly surprising performance as Colee. While not formally educated, she’s far from unintelligent; instead, she demonstrates considerable social skills and becomes the source of optimism and recovery for the other two. Timothy Robbins as Cheaver and Michael Pena as TK are also very good in their respective parts. Cheaver takes on a paternal role within the group, leading to growing worry among the others about his health and safety. The film presents a nice mix of settings from both the East and West sides of the country, with filming taking place in Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, and Las Vegas. I'll leave it at that. If this description sounds appealing, I strongly suggest watching "The Lucky Ones." Its runtime is approximately one hour and fifty-two minutes. GRADE: A-

Source on TMDB