Movie Review: The Adjustment Bureau (2011): More Humorous Than Expect

The Adjustment Bureau stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. Matt Damon is David Norris, who is running for state senator. Emily Blunt is Elise Sellas, a ballet dancer. The two meet unexpectedly one evening and feel an attraction and connection to one another. Despite repeated obstacles and an entire army of individuals who are dead set against them being together, the two are drawn together over and over. Is it fate? Are they meant to be together?

The two meet unexpectedly in a men's restroom on the eve of a very important vote in David's life. He is nervously talking to himself, and she, who just happens to be hiding in a restroom stall, hesitatingly reveals her eavesdropping on his conversation. Despite their awkward first meeting, the two seem to connect almost instantly. The world seems to stand still as they talk, and David forgets for minute that he is stressed out about the election.

The two part ways and lose each other . . . and find each other over and over again. David finally finds out why his efforts to be in a relationship with Elise seem to be thwarted. There is a group of men called the Adjustment Bureau that are working full-time to make sure they don't end up together. The bureau all wear business suits and fedora hats. They are dressed sharp! I was reminded of the GQ attire of the evil guys in the Matrix--only these evil guys appear to be a little nicer. They have emotions and feel sympathy towards David. One bureau member, Harry Mitchell (Anthony Mackie) seems to have a special affinity for David. He keeps a 24-hour watch on David's whereabouts. He is the one who is supposed to bump David's coffee so that it spills on David, forcing him to change his suit and miss the bus he catches where he will re-connect with Elise. But because he falls asleep . . . well you can imagine.

The bureau also all carry little maps which assure them things are still on target. In this way, they are able to see what catastrophes might happen if something random like a coffee spilling does not occur. I felt bad for the bureau folks having to work so hard to keep things on target. Who would want that job? In order to keep David and Elise apart, they are willing do anything, even cause traffic accidents.

This makes the concept of the movie a little difficult to swallow. The trailer made the movie look more on the science fiction side. I really did think of the Matrix when I saw the trailer. I kept expecting some big secret to be revealed about their future that would make it all understandable. The actual movie was more humorous than expected. I also thought it was kind of ironic that the Adjustment Bureau would be assigned to "make sure things happen as they should happen," yet they are having to work so hard to make sure things happen as they should. If things are meant to happen, they just happen, right?

While the Adjustment Bureau had some nice moments, it was more of a love story than anything else. Damon and Blunt play their roles well and have good chemistry together. I expected something original and groundbreaking based on the previews. There was a little of that. The most unusual scene involves Damon running through a series of doors all leading to various places from a library to a ballpark to an office building. But for the most part, this is a simple love story with some cuteness. I recommend you watch it with your sweetie for date night, and reminisce on all the little moments that brought you together. Maybe make a little map of "adjustments" that had to happen for your paths to merge.

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