Out of Luck...

17. That's how many books Nicholas Sparks has written.

50,000,000. That's how many books Sparks has sold worldwide.

7. How many of his books have been made into films.

3. How many I convinced my husband to watch with me.

1. Made me close my eyes to avoid the semi-porn on the screen.


Last week I read The Lucky One in preparation of our Friday date night. War, destiny, and sacrificial love dominated the text. The two leading characters rescue each other from their crises. There's even a bullied, gifted boy to love and cheer for. In the end, Sparks' trademark death scene brought about a satisfying end to my middle-of-the-night reading sprint.

As Friday approached, it occurred to me that catching the movie just a couple of days before seeing the film might reduce my enjoyment. I've learned to lower my expectations for movies based on books, but it complicates things to have it all so fresh in your mind. By the time we arrived at the theater, I had almost convinced myself to switch to Think Like A Man. I knew Chris would enjoy the comedy more, but I so rarely drag him to chick flicks that I decided to just stick with the plan.

I should note here that A Walk to Remember and The Notebook make me cry like a fifteen-year-old writing in her journal. Chris hated Message in a Bottle since even he teared up a bit. But the heart-wrenching of Sparks' storytelling is precisely why he's rolling in his millions.

The Lucky One got off to a promising start with its star, Zac Efron, at war in Iraq. However, the meat of that topic was cut too short. The film was only 1 hour and 40 minutes, and I personally think they could have spared an extra 5 here and there to reinforce this noteworthy storyline. The film's lead actress, Taylor Schilling, has made a mere 4 movies, and it shows. While the script may have given her little to work with, her contribution was uninspiring and forgettable. I don't often criticize actors, but I can think of a dozen so-so actresses who could have done better.

But none of this compares to the gratuitous love-making we are shown in not one, not two, but three different scenes. Chris and I were wide-eyed, looking away from the scene and at each other, when he said, "what kind of movie did you bring me to see?!" It's been many years since I've seen anything like it on the bigscreen, though I do stray away from the expected foul dialogue in the crass new line of films from the likes of Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill. Perhaps they were trying to prove that Efron has left his Disney musical days behind, but all they proved is that he has a behind.

I admit that I have been somewhat desensitized to the passionate undercurrents and hormonal hungering today's films offer. Right or wrong, it comes with the territory of loving movies. But I do expect to check out a PG-13 flick without the need for a big eraser for my brain.

Overall, the story isn't that great, so it isn't worth overlooking the semi-porn to check it out.