The Adjustment Bureau was a huge surprise for me. From the trailers this movie looked like a direct response to Inception with a bunch of good looking people running around modern architecture in even better looking suits. Instead I was greeted by a compelling romantic drama with a bizarre existential thriller underneath the whole thing. And I have to say, it was damn entertaining if not a bit under-cooked. The Adjustment Bureau is about congressman David Norris (Matt Damon) and dancer/ choreographer Elise (Emily Blunt) as they uncover a secret agency that exist underneath all of our noses. They call themselves the Adjustment Bureau these men are supposed to keep the world on track, and whenever something needs to be adjusted they step in and alter reality ever so slightly to set things in an entirely new direction, and they do this all for the greater good, or so they say. The Adjustment Bureau makes not so subtle references that these agents are angels as they speak vaguely about their boss, The Chairman while glancing or nodding to the sky.
While the concept of agents of god who intervene when they feel its necessary brings up fascinating ideas about free will, something us lowly humans only vaguely understand, the movie brushes through these otherwise thought provoking ideas too quickly and lightly for any of it to have any real impact. Its unfortunate because in the few lengthy conversation David has with these agents they bring up some very interesting philosophically debatable questions but they never amount to anything and that religious aspect is their more to set a tone, which again is unfortunate as it could have been explored to greater use.
What we do get is a romance between David and Elise that is so compelling that at times you forget that their are these bizarre religous and philosophical undertones that run underneath the entire movie. David is a congressman who after a egregious leak of private information he loses the election and ends up meeting up with Elisa in the men's restroom while rehearsing his losing speech. The cute awkward interaction between them is fun and quickly becomes the main hook for the entire movie, because the agents are determined to keep these two apart no matter what. These agents are under the impression that if David and Elise are together the repercussion would shatter the entire world, though that may seem extreme the agents do a pretty good job explaining ripples as these inescapable side effects to ever action. So David is confronted by this adjustment bureau and is told to stay away or risk ruining his and her life forever, but David is stubborn and relentless in his pursuit of Elise. This disregard for destiny and endless pursuit for true love is incredibly engaging and exciting as David defies the agents and their powers to try and prevent the destiny the bureau has laid out for him so that he could be with the person he loves. There is something very entertaining about a man who won't let anything get in his way, even when what is in his way his some sort of supernatural super powered agents who are compelled to keep this on the "right" track.
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt give great performances that is the core of the films relationship, their chemistry is so strong and believable that it enhances the countless obstacles they face if they are going to be together. I cannot say enough how good both Damon and Blunt are together, they play of each other well like they really are meant to be together. Its a great compelling romance that makes some of the less interesting thriller aspects and underutilized heady philosophical notions easily forgiven. There is something incredibly moving about watching someone stop at nothing and overcoming impossible odds to be with somebody they love, especially when that which is in your way has vaguely been described to you as GOD.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed The Adjustment Bureau, the surprise of having a genuinely touching romance at the center of this movie boosted my enjoyment, especially considering I was expecting a quick cash grab Inception knockoff. And while the movie brings up countless ideas about free will and other philosophical issues, it never really uses these ideas to their full advantage and they never amount to anything as they become practically meaningless. The Adjustment Bureau is a great romantic drama with strong chemistry between the leads, with interesting but underused philosophical ideas and while its nothing new its a ton of fun and I highly recommend it.
(4 out of 5)
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