'The Adjustment Bureau'

'The Adjustment Bureau' (PG-13) (2 stars)

Writer: George Nolfi based on short story "The Adjustment Team" by Philip K. Dick
Director: George Nolfi
Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, John Slattery, Anthony Mackie, Michael Kelly

"The Adjustment Bureau" has a great set up and premise but by the end I felt that premise fizzled and got old. This is a movie with major set up but lackluster execution. Lackluster in the romance department and also in the science fiction one. Matt Damon gives another solid performance as politician David Norris who is running for Governor of New York. His campaign goes up in flames when word gets out of David's violent past. In a weird meet cute David meets ballerina Elise, played by Emily Blunt, in a men's bathroom. Sparks do fly and they share a kiss when suddenly she runs off and David is kidnapped by four men in fedoras and suits. They explain to David that they adjust moments in his life so he can reach his goals and destiny without set backs. They tell him that him and Elise are not meant to be. David does not like this, he has fallen in love with Elise and he tries to escape. This is all a good set up and I was intrigued by how this team could adjust things at random. There is some exposition and it gets complicated but I was still into it.

I was waiting for something magical to happen, some big pay off but the movie to me is very flat. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are both good and have great chemistry but I felt that their characters were jerked around too much to give them any quiet moments. What we get is a two minute love scene montage and some kissing but there is no room to allow heat. The movie gets complicated, twists around and at some point I just got tired of it. I do not think the follow through on what the adjustment bureau does by the end is clear. I know it is science fiction and doesn't have to make huge sense but I got lost quickly. The movie then becomes just one long chase scene after chase scene. The couple do get to go through doors or I guess portals to jump from location to location. You would think that would have some creativity behind it but I thought it became tedious and laughable. David puts on one of the team's fedoras which gives him power to transport but it came off weird to me.

There have been many adaptations of Phillip K. Dick's science fiction novellas and stories but I am thinking this wasn't his best stuff. I mean you have my favorite science fiction movie "Blade Runner" and "Minority Report", two classics. I don't expect this movie to be their equals but I at least wanted to get into this movie and find something cool about it. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are very good, Anthony Mackie and John Slattery are good as two of the members of the adjustment team. I got to the point were I started to fidget, roll my eyes and wanted out. The love story doesn't create heat, the chase scenes are too many and by the end the movie didn't impress me. This is one of those movies you won't remember in a week. It is like too many movies today, no energy, excitement or follow through.