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Show HILLTOP TIMES TIME S 11 Aug. 16, 2012 Nicholas Sparks, Zac Efron unite for a real tearjerker: 'The Lucky One' By STEVE SALLES Standard-Examiner movie critic A uthor and screenwriter Nicholas Sparks seems like a nice man. I met him. He's personable, and he appears to be happy. But honestly, he's starting to worry me, because I think he enjoys killing off people in his books and movies a little too much. There's a closet serial killer lurking in the recesses of his imagination and he simply can't help himself. Not surprisingly, "The Lucky One" is no different. So with all due respect, Nick, get some help! But enough of that. "The Lucky One" is the story of a Marine who survives the war in Iraq and returns home to thank the person, he believes, was his lucky charm. After a rough night of combat, he sees an object "gleaming" in the rubble, walks over to pick it up and it turns out to be the photo of a beautiful young woman standing in front of a lighthouse. On the back it simply reads, "Take care." At that very moment, a mortar round lands at the spot where he previously sat. Several members of his platoon are killed. He survives to complete his third tour of duty at the ripe old age of 25. Logan (Zac Efron) comes home to live with his sister's family in Colorado, Warner Bros. Pictures Zac Efron as Logan in Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' romantic drama "The Lucky One." but flashbacks haunt him, putting his nephews in a state of fear. So he finds the very same lighthouse in a photo on the Internet and decides to set out on foot with his trusty German shepherd, from Colorado to Louisiana. For the geographically challenged, that's a long walk. Never mind that Logan's a war veteran and that any trucker in America would have been honored to stop and give him a ride. He prefers to walk. It clears his head. Sure, why not. When he arrives at his destination, he shows the photo around, discovers Beth (Taylor Schilling) runs a family dog kennel in a state of disrepair 4 and just as he's about to whip out the photo, thank her for being his symbolic guardian angel, she interrupts him and says, "Oh, you're here about the 'help wanted' ad!" Really? So he just tucks the photo away and decides to be the new handyman? Come on! Now, I can appreciate a good, old-fashioned love story like the next guy, but it's these awkward and forced Nicholas Sparks moments that make me crazy. And then throw in the which-character-will-he-kill-off sweepstakes. Maybe it's grandma (Blythe Danner), as she gets caught in the middle of a domestic squabble? Maybe it's Beth's fair-haired son, who runs off into the bayou during a violent storm? Maybe it's the over-thetop jerk of an ex-husband? Hey, why not kill them all? Come on, Nicky, pick somebody! You know you're dying to eliminate a character, either by disease, old age, hurricane or whatever. Other than that, "The Lucky One" is a well-intended charmer. Zac and Taylor are cute together, the locales are cool, and romantics will swoon at every Sparks line like it's the reinvention of Shakespeare. So I expect big, sobbing, swooning crowds. Steve Salles can be reached at films@standard.net NEWS BRIEFS and 8 a.m. for morning traffic, and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for traffic returning from lunch. Tree trimming at South Gate beginning Aug. 21 Cardinal Maintenance will begin trimming trees at South Gate starting Aug. 21 and continuing through Aug. 24. The project will start at 6 a.m. on the outbound lane from the curve onto Highway 193 and move north toward the guard shack. The project will then shift from there to the inbound lane, from the curve going onto Highway 193 and continue north on Southgate Drive along the east side. For incoming lanes there will be no tree trimming between 6 a.m. The Leonardo discount for military personnel On Aug. 24-26, all military personnel are free and their immediate family members are $5 (per family). Families of deployed military are free but must show deployment documents. The Leonardo is a museum merging science, technology and creativity. It is located at 209 E. 500 South in Salt Lake City. For more information call 801-531-9800 ext. 116. U.S. SBA holding conference for military The U.S. Small Business Administration is holding a conference for veterans and military members looking to start a business. The conference will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. August 28, 2012 at the Gail Miller Conference Center, Room 150, 9750 S. 300 West, Sandy. Topics of the conference will include "What's my risk quotient?"; "Fits & starts 4 What I know now"; "Shaking the money tree 4 Lessons learned"; "Is entrepreneurship right for you?"; and "Marketing winners and follies." Admission is free. To register, contact Dennis Wengert at 801-5243204 or dennis.wengert@sba.gov by August 20. Hubbard Charity Classic on Aug. 31 Register by Aug. 22 for the eighth annual CGOC Hubbard Charity Classic to be held Aug. 31. Starting times are 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in a best ball scramble format. Cost is $65 per person; $260 per team and includes lunch, refreshments and snacks. The tourney will benefit Habitat for Humanity. For questions and registration please contact Evangeline Fleischaker at ejfleischaker@yahoo. corn or 760-840-1738. Reminder for unlicensed child care providers All persons providing child care in their home for more than 10 hours per week must be licensed. Unlicensed childcare may result in the loss of base housing privileges. If you suspect someone of providing unlicensed childcare please call 801-777-0695, a child's well-being may depend on your call. Those who are not Licensed FCC Providers should not be permitted to advertise or post notices in installation publications or on bulletin boards. Religious ServIcesrf . I . .....Luthera LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH (WELS) Sunday Worship Staffed Sunday 11 Nursery Visitors Expected! 10:30 a.m. wiaEy 1074 N. Fairfield. Layton (Across from Post Office) call Pastor Doug Lange at 444-1591 immemorial www. 11 ph tell haw. I lay-wets. orp OUR SAVIOR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH Summer Worship Service 9:30 am I 1 'Unitarian Univil keenoninatioi i LBaPtitA UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST Church of Ogden August 19, 10:30 a.m. Anne Spatola A View From the Mountaintop UUCO, 705 23rd Street WorCgip AZowciate Iola, 394.3338 I ionffariNne.org macet Be With You Fellowship Service 8:45-9:15 am Adult and Youth Bible Study offered 5560 S. 2300 W. Roy, Utah 84067 (801)825-6552 www.oslcroy.com Church Caffeinated Presbyterian Westminster alpinechurch.org 1801.392.8000 I Classic Sunday Worship..9 am Contemporary Sunday Worship..11:30am Sunday School-all ages..10:30am 200 South 500 East, Clearfield, Ut 84015 Office: 801-825-1115 www.clearfieldcommunityshursh.org Twitter: clearfieldec Sunday Worship: 10:30 am Sunday School: 9:00 am 2585 E. 3000 N., Layton • (801)771-3204 (just W. of Hwy 89 on Hwy 193) mountainviewbc.org You are invited to an exciting Church Clearfield Community Church Mountain View Baptist Church (SBC) t ,-..-¥''`gsg) %.-- _ North Central Baptist Church 10 am Bible Class 11 am Morning Service 6 pm Evening Service Thursday 7 pm Prayer & Bible Study 5800 S. 1900 W. Roy, Ut (Sad Atlantic) 801-513-6072 United Methodis FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Sunday Worship 8:30 and 10:00 am 6:00 pm Evening Worship Nursery care provided during worship 1339 West 400 North, Marriott-Slatenille 801 393 5662 - www.fuincogdenut.org - - Serving the t>gden Area since 1 870 Community United Methodist Church Join us for Worship 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Childcare, Sunday School, and Youth Group every Sunday. 163 West 4800 South Washington Terrace 479-7430 1V~ zip A community of faith for the community around us wpcutah.corn 796 S. Mountain Rd, Fruit Heights To publish your Church Announcement in the Church Directory, please contact Mitzi at 801-625-4371 www.community-umc.net |