'The Adjustment Bureau' A Review

Matt Damon plays a New York politician with hopes of becoming Senator. On the night of his crushing defeat he meets the woman of his dreams(Emily Blunt) in the men's bathroom. She inspires him to give a rousing speech that sets him up for another Senate bid a couple years down the line. The thing is it wasn't a chance meeting it was arranged by...THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU!

The main thrust of the movie is that 'The Chairman' has a plan for everyone on earth. Insert whatever personification of God you'd like. S/he has a government-esk organization, with certain powers, that police the human population and make sure they stay 'on plan.' After Blunt inspires Damon they're never to meet again because they're not meant to be together. The rest of the movie is pretty much in two parts. Damon trying to find Blunt and once they are together, trying to avoid The Adjustment Bureau.

The premise or idea of the movie is fascinating but the film makes a conscious choice to get away from some of the bigger issues or implications i.e. Fate vs. Free Will. And that's OK. The chemistry between the characters is great, it's fast paced, and overall a fun journey with a happy ending. I guess, when it comes down to it, there's not a whole lot to the movie. It's a classic love story with bureaucratic fate angles.

I won't go in to the peaks and valley's of Damon and Blunt's relationship or the different attempts by the Bureau to keep them apart. Only because that's the entire movie. The movie briefly sets up the idea of the Bureau and then follows the relatively predictable plot arc of Damon trying to connect with Blunt.

Damon and Blunt's chemistry carry the movie. Their attraction is nice and warming and we as audience members are comfortable when they're on screen together. The big surprise in the movie is Damon's best friend and campaign manager played by Michael Kelly. He's the perfect supporting character and foil for action of the story. He's earnest, motivated, cares about Damon but is totally clueless of the action going on behind the curtain. Anthony Mackie and John Slattery were both kind of uninspired as agents of fate but it didn't overly detract from the piece as a whole.

Generally I say the movie was good. It could have been great. The film gave itself fascinating complex themes and moral issues to play with. It only had the guts to turn it into one long protracted chase scene. But hey...

I like chase scenes.