The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Rating: 7/10 (16 April 2020)

Directed by George Nolfi. Starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, Michael Kelly, John Slattery, Terence Stamp, Donnie Keshawarz, Anthony Ruivivar. (PG-13)
New York politician Damon has a "meet cute" with winsome dancer Blunt and an infatuation sets in; however, the powers that be (in this case, a mysterious, otherworldly group called the Adjustment Bureau) cannot allow him to pursue a romance, and will do whatever it takes to keep them apart. Intriguing setup, with a well-matched pair of likable performers in Damon and Blunt, though the script often glosses over the most stimulating aspects of its existential premise to get back to more conventional storytelling devices--metaphysical implications be damned so long as two attractive people fall in love. Despite some nifty camera tricks and special effects allowing Damon to get from Yankee Stadium to the Statue of Liberty in seconds, the climactic chase lacks the visceral excitement and/or the colossal weight of free will decision it ought to have tried achieving. Liberally adapted from the Philip K. Dick tunnel-under-the-world short story "Adjustment Team." Several famous faces make cameos, including Jon Stewart and James Carville; Richard Ashcroft of the Verve fame contributes a couple of songs ("Future's Bright," "Are You Ready?").
66/100