THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU Movie Review

I'm not normally one for romance, or "chick flicks". I prefer my blood and guts to kissing and swooning. So when I sat down to watch The Adjustment Bureau, thinking I was in for an interesting conspiracy movie, with maybe a few car chases or gun fights, I was really disappointed.

A very young, very ambitious politician named David Norris (played by Matt Damon) runs into a woman in a men's bathroom stall after being crushed in a political election for US Senate. Elise (played by Emily Blunt), a professional ballet dancer, is both stunning and intriguing to him. In a very candid conversation, the two make an immediate connection. But as suddenly as they meet, Elise whisks off into the night and Damon delivers a heart warming defeat speech that makes him a shoe in for the next election. By chance, Damon runs into her again a few weeks later, and this time gets her phone number. It is then that he unexpectedly runs into a group of strange, suit jacket men that inform him that he was never supposed to meet Elise again, and that his Fate had been altered. They call themselves the Adjustment Bureau, and they tell David that he cannot see her ever again, because their Fates are not meant to be together. But, as luck would have it, David meets her yet again by chance, and they become romantically involved. The Adjustment Bureau tell David he must choose between two predetermined Fates and decide whether to be with Elise and ruin both of their chances at achieving great and powerful things, or be together - defying their own destinies.

Now, don't get me wrong, the film was really well done. Director George Nolfi did a great job of bringing together a decent story, beautiful shots of New York City and an intriguing concept. But regardless of how interesting the idea of an association that monitors us and controls our fates was, it was more of a background concept to the love story between David and Elise. David is constantly defying the odds to be with this woman because he believes she is the love of his life, and she feels the same. But every time he gets close to her, the Bureau tries to tear them apart. I found myself rolling my eyes a few times, and really wanting more involvement of the Adjustment Bureau. I also found the ending pretty cheesy and it more or less ruined any interest I'd had in the movie up to that point. I'd say this one is sort of a toss up, because it is a good film, it's just not the kind of film I'm crazy about.

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