Very enjoyable

Rating: 9/10 (11 March 2011)

David Norris (Matt Damon), an up and coming politician, meets dancer Elise (Emily Blunt), and they fall for each other. The path of true love never runs smooth, however, and in this case it is because of a bunch of mysterious hat-wearing bureaucrats who devote considerable resources to ensuring that events move along according to a predetermined Plan (which, it transpires, doesn't include David and Elise getting together).
There are three major elements to this movie. One is the romance between the two main characters. The second is the science fiction notion of The Adjustment Bureau itself, continually making minor adjustments to the lives of ordinary people to make sure that The Plan proceeds uninterrupted, and occasionally messing up big time. And the third is an interesting subtext about free will vs predetermination.
All three of these elements interweave, and work very well. Forget the Bourne comparisons. Although Damon is in it, and there is a chase (which makes excellent use of the sc-fi concept, special effects, and New York locations, any Bourne comparison is massively wide of the mark. The science fiction side of things is well handled, but never threatens to overwhelm the heart of the movie, which is the touching and believable relationship between David and Elise - yes, I would have fallen for her straight away, too! These likable characters are very well written and performed, and are a big part of what makes this film very successful.