The Lucky One (2012)

Logan Thibault, a US Marine serving in Iraq, witnesses a Marine called “Aces” die attempting to aid one of his men during an ambush. The following morning, he finds a picture of a young woman on the ground just before a mortar attack destroys where he had been sitting, killing many around him. Unsuccessful at finding the photo’s owner, he keeps it. Logan’s squad-mate declares the woman in the picture as his “guardian angel,” just before an explosion destroys their Humvee. Logan returns to Colorado to live with his sister’s family, who have been looking after his dog, Zeus. Suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and survivor guilt, he decides it is best to leave and departs to search of the woman in the photo. Logan and Zeus walk to Louisiana, where a lighthouse in the picture has provided a clue. He shows the photo around town and a local resident tells him that the woman used to be married to his friend, a local deputy sheriff.

Logan finds the woman, Beth Green, but has difficulty explaining why he is there. She assumes he wants a job, and her grandmother, Ellie hires him. At first, Beth is irritated by Logan’s presence, but she begins to warm to him as his calm demeanor, willingness to work, and competence in repairing machinery are demonstrated. Logan develops a supportive relationship with Beth’s son, Ben, who is without a positive male influence since the death of Beth’s brother, Drake. Beth’s former husband, Sheriff’s Deputy Keith Clayton—the son of the town’s judge—is immediately suspicious of Logan. He is brusque and overbearing with the former Marine. He discourages Ben from playing the violin around him, leading to Ben practicing in his tree house.