The Lucky One

Nicholas Sparks is notorious for his love/drama/romance novels with The Notebook being his first book and most recognisable example of his style. A true master of this particular genre, The Lucky One proves exactly that. The thing is that when an artist; writer, actor, singer, painter; makes a breakthrough and gains all the fame and recognition that was always dreamed of, a big question arises. Should he maintain the same style with which he introduced himself to the audience or should he try something new. I mean people — and especially the audience — tend to like knowing what to expect so therefore nobody would ever suggest that Agatha Christie switch from crime novels to romantic ones. But the truth is that in this difficult answer lies the fear of repetition of mannerism. It’s when the audience not only know what to expect but can even predict precisely what is going to happen next and when. So instead of having a book whose chapters fly through your fingers, boredom kicks in and you know that even if you skip a few pages you’ll able to catch up easily.

The Lucky One was exactly like that. I knew what to expect and when to expect it. All the well-known writing techniques were lying there making this novel a perfect one — but only on paper. The plot is as straight forward as it can be. Boy meets girl, they fall in love but their past gets in the way. Bottom line is that when you read it you will get what you paid for, so you won’t feel disappointed but won’t feel excited either. It lacks The Notebook’s magic — it’s like a well-written book with no spirit.

As for the adaptation, there were no surprises to be had. Nicholas Sparks is one of the most adapted writers to enter the big screen. With seven adaptations in total and one yet to come, his way of writing makes the studios’ work easier. I must say that in this one, there were more alternations than I would expect, and I still haven’t figured out whether or not most were necessary. Nevertheless the movie flows, following the guidelines that the book set. The casting was more than adequate; with Zac Efron holding the main role along with Taylor Schilling. Directed by Scott Hicks – an interesting choice – and adapted by Will Fetters, The Lucky One is the kind of movie that you will enjoy watching at home, with friends and a ton of ice-cream.