Emily Blunt and Matt Damon have a plan of their own in THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU (George Nolfi, 2011)
Opens Friday, March 4
www.theadjustmentbureau.com
Loosely based on a 1954 short story by Phikilp K. Dick that was also the inspiration for the 1998 Alex Proyas film Dark City, which starred Jennifer Connelly and Rufus Sewell, The Adjustment Bureau is a gripping romantic thriller that begins and ends with overwrought silliness but packs quite a wallop in between. After losing his bid for the Senate because, among other reasons, the New York Post slapped a picture of his butt on its front page, U.S. congressman David Norris (Matt Damon) unexpectedly meets a beautiful dancer, Elise (Emily Blunt), in the men’s room of the Waldorf=Astoria as he rehearses his concession speech. Sparks fly, but as they try to begin a relationship, outside forces work hard to keep them apart. Those forces turn out to be members of a mysterious group of men in hats whose job it is to make sure the Chairman’s preordained plan continues as scheduled. After seeing something he wasn’t supposed to, Norris is told by Adjustment team leader Richardson (John Slattery) that he must never see Elise again and that if he tells anyone what he’s seen, they will erase his mind. But Norris isn’t about to give up the woman he feels destined to be with, no matter what the consequences. The Adjustment Bureau starts with a ridiculous montage of real-life pundits, broadcasters, and politicians talking about the fictional Norris. But once the drama kicks into full gear, the film turns into an exciting battle of wits that includes several cool chase scenes that take viewers through the real New York City, not Toronto or Vancouver or green screens; New Yorkers are sure to laugh out loud when Richardson tells his underling, Harry (Anthony Mackie), upon getting lost tracking David and Elise, “I hate downtown.” First-time director George Nolfi even gets the dance scenes right, making Elise a member of Chelsea’s Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, using the company’s real stage and actual dancers. The denouement gets unnecessarily sappy and melodramatic, but by then you’ll have had more than enough fun to adjust your enjoyment of this popcorner.