Lucky Them

Toni Collette steals the show as Ellie, a music journalist on a very personal assignment, in this comedy drama. Helped by little more than rumours and an obnoxious film-maker (Thomas Hayden Church), she must find her ex-boyfriend, a celebrated musician, on the tenth anniversary of his disappearance. At times feeling like a paint-by-numbers indie drama, the film revels in its trendy Seattle setting, but fails to provide anything that truly engages beyond some well-cast leads. Collette hits all the right notes in a performance that shows her character's flaws without making her seem weak, allowing the story to be told from a refreshingly nuanced female perspective. Amid the hip haircuts and open-mic dreamboats is Hayden Church, cutting through the self-conscious cool and having a blast, as his character and Collette's butt heads hilariously. A surprise cameo ends things on a high note, making Lucky Them fun while it lasts, but no more than that.