Unscrupulous advertising

Rating: Null/10 (24 July 2011)

An affair between a politician and a dancer causes a time ripple that must be put back on track by fate-like angels of the Bureau.
Miss-sold by a misleading trailer and a quote 'Bourne meets Inception', The Adjustment Bureau shares more with Two of a Kind (1983) starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton- John with a smudging of Dark City (1998) and the look of the 'Rat Pack'.
Directed by George Nolfi it has some small but well executed effects, doorways that open onto other streets when wearing a hat, time frozen moments and so on. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are on form but ultimately it's a great concept wasted on a cringe worthy love story. Because of this Terence Stamp and the rest of the cast appear wasted as much as the intriguing premise.
If modern romance is your thing and you like science fiction there's enjoyment to be found. However, considering this is based on a Philip K. Dick story don't expect something in the vain of previous film incarnations of his work or you'll be disappointed.
Sadly even as a romantic yarn it's very average and The Tourist (2010), Serendipity (2001) or While you were Sleeping (1995) it is not. The first and last segments are the most interesting and it's great to see Damon give another solid performance but it's been sold as something it's not by advertisers who are as shady as the The Adjustment Bureau.