The Adjustment Bureau

In this sci-fi thriller, Matt Damon plays fresh-faced politician, David Norris, whose reckless past costs him the senate race in his home state.  On the night of his concession, David meets a beautiful stranger, Elise (Emily Blunt), who immediately steals his heart - and inspires him to give the best speech of his career - then vanishes without a trace.  David becomes obsessed with finding his mystery girl, until a clandestine organization intervenes to keep them apart.  Now, he is torn between his career and his love for someone he barely knows - all while being watched by men who want to ensure that David keeps to their predetermined plan.  The Adjustment Bureau is yet another film based on the seemingly endless collection of adaptable short stories by Philip K. Dick.  In this one, however, the romance between the two main characters takes center stage above the sci-fi aspect of the story.  Damon, completely believable in the role of an idealistic politician who truly believes he can make a difference, is perfectly cast as a reformed congressman with a bad-boy past.  And when he meets Elise for the first time, David is not just "in lust at first site" - it's much more than that.  Something about her sparks something in David and makes him feel truly alive for the first time... as if he's been waiting to meet Elise his whole life and finally realizes his true purpose.  Blunt, looking breathtakingly gorgeous as ever, gives Elise just the right blend of frankness and seductive charm, without being overtly sexy - it's no wonder David finds her completely irresistible and unforgettable.  There were some plot holes that I couldn't overlook (Why didn't Elise go looking for David when he couldn't find her?  Was she playing hard to get?), and the overall message of the story was hokey at best.  The film does raise some interesting philosophical questions, though, and that, paired with clever visuals and exciting chase scenes, were enough to keep me entertained.  If you try not to question the movie as much as David questions "the plan" and allow yourself to just enjoy the ride, then you'll probably be pretty entertained, too.

3 out of 5 stars