Weekend Movie

How many times do movies have to tell you?? Love conquers all! Well, just in case you forgot...again....Matt Damon exclaims it to you in his adorable and surprisingly hilarious dialogue in "The Adjustment Bureau." And you know, even more surprisingly, I sauntered out of this movie with extreme gratitude. I now know (with confidence, mind you) how to spell the word "Bureau." Matt Damon, if i could only count the things you've taught me.

Unfortunately improved spelling proficiency is the main remnant this film left me with. So the truth is I approached this movie with expectations that it would carry a certain feeling. I was hoping for a big brother, totalitarian hopeful darkness plot twist. The idea of a secret non-human work force that controls the use of free will intrigued me. Especially considering Jason Bourne as the main character I thought to myself, "Hot Digity Dog!" However, I am disappointed to report that Matt Damon, who plays a New York Senate Hopeful David Norris, is, well, normal. Very adorable, but normal. In this case Big Brother is God and not a very menacing one. And no matter how many times men in hats flicked their fingers to magically make things moved, I felt safe and coincidentally that one word easily summed up the film.

I was taken with the chemistry between Damon and Blunt, but as the plot actually started to move I was dissapointed by its normalcy. What?! This is a show about God's Angels in identity denial and I just found myself saying, "Of course that's what's happening...Of course the Angels need a magical Fedora to travel quickly through downtown Manhattan." As soon as there was opposition and suspense everything feel into place and the conflicts in the plot seemed more to be easily overcome side plots.

The idea was there, the casting worked, but the film as a whole skidded along the surface. I did love the unexpected comedy. Blunt and Damon shared some of the most natural and believable romantic exchanges. But once again, too easy! The lack of depth as whole left me feeling sad for "Adjustment Bureau's" unreached potential. Entertaining for sure. Even more, Damon's devoutness to his soulmate leaves women floating from the movie even more distanced from reality than a Jane Austin story. In fact the film can more easily be categorized as a chick flick disguised as a Conspiracy thriller. When you use a cast as talented as Damon and Blunt in this day of extreme film making go big or go home! Leave safe to the Fast and the Furious. Give us something that can go all the way!