by Katie Calautti
'Tis the season of top five lists—but we here at Hollywood Crush prefer to look forward instead of back— which is why we’re bringing you our top five most anticipated movies of 2012! And because we’re suckers for a Nicholas Sparks adaptation, "The Lucky One" kicks things off at No. 5.
Sparks' weepy novels have proven to be star-launching platforms for some of Hollywood’s hottest—consider the Sparklings of yore: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in "The Notebook," Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried in "Dear John," and Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth in "The Last Song."
And this latest rom-dram is no exception—“The Lucky One” stars one gloriously bulked up Zac Efron and the gorgeous Taylor Schilling (who you may recognize from the short-lived NBC series “Mercy”). The film looks a little like “Dear John” in reverse. Zac plays US Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault, who finds a photo of a mysterious woman while on duty in Iraq. When his tour is up, he returns to the States, but can’t stop thinking of the woman, who he believes to be his good luck charm (all together now: awwww!). He learns that her name is Beth Clayton, takes a job at her family’s kennel and proceeds to woo her with his bodacious bod and characteristically Spark-ian nice guy ways. Of course, there’s a twist (there always is!)—Beth’s ex-husband doesn’t take too kindly to Logan inching in on his territory. And then there’s the issue of Logan keeping the photograph a secret from Beth, even after they launch into a passionate love affair. Drama!
The movie contains all the elements that we love about a Sparks adaptation: an idyllic small-town setting in the South (in this instance, North Carolina), plucky supporting characters (Blythe Danner as Beth’s Nana and Riley Thomas Stewart as Beth’s son Ben), a romantic boat outing à la “The Notebook” and some seriously steamy sex scenes. Need we say more?
This is the part where we urge you to watch the trailer, because OMG ZEFRON IN BOXER BREIFS. He’s come a long way since “High School Musical” and “17 Again," and we likey. Oh, we likey.
“The Lucky One” hits theaters on April 20, 2012.
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