The plan, the plan

Rating: 7/10 (27 June 2012)

Matt Damon falls in love and interferes with "The Plan" in this 2011 film also starring Emily Blunt, Terrence Stamp, and John Slattery.
Damon plays David Norris, a congressman running for Senate who at the last minute loses due to a college prank that is highly publicized. He goes to the mens room to rehearse his concession speech, and there he meets a beautiful young woman, Elise (Emily Blunt) hiding from security. They talk, and she encourages him to be who he is and to be honest. There's an instant attraction, and they kiss. David walks out and gives a brilliant speech, so good, in fact, that there is interest in him for the next Senate race. In the meantime, he takes a job at his campaign manager's firm. On his way to work, whom should he see on the bus but the woman from the mens room, and this time, he gets her number.
When he walks into work, however, there are a group of men there running what looks like a scanner over his boss. David runs but the men catch him. It is then that he learns that these men are his case workers. Everyone has them, to make sure that they adhere to the plan. The plan has been devised by The Chairman (Terrence Stamp). The case workers tweak little things in order to guide David - not his personality, not his emotions, but with the purpose of keeping him on track so that he can achieve his purpose. The head case worker, Richardson (John Slattery) tells David that according to the plan, David was never supposed to run into Elise again, and they move to make sure he doesn't connect with her a third time. But David can't forget her.
This is an interesting premise, building on the idea that everything, even spilling your coffee, happens for a reason; that, in fact, we are all guided by angels, which some people call the caseworkers, to make sure that we achieve the life and goals set by The Chairman.
The science fiction premise is mixed with romance here, with both Blunt and Damon giving warm, charming performances. I was left feeling, though, that as sweet as the film was, it could have been better. Nevertheless, it's nice to see an original idea on the screen, and I applaud it.
Intriguing. See it.