The Adjustment Bureau Review

By: Robert Acosta

Cast:
Matt Damon as David Norris
Emily Blunt as Elsie Sellas
Anthony Mackie as Harry Mitchell

Plot: Politician David Norris (Damon) tries to make it to the big time. Along the way he meets the girl of his dreams (Blunt) but he soon finds out he was being watched by the "Adjustment Bureau". The bureau puts a halt to their love but Norris is hell bent on keeping their love going.

Review: March is already looking like one hell of a month for movies. Well, at least on paper it's looking great, I really haven't seen most of the movies in March. The Adjustment Bureau puts in more than a strong effort to start off a great month.

In its basics, The Adjustment Bureau follows Matt Damn as David Norris. Norris is a politician looking to get into the big picture. After his failed attempt to become the senator of NY, he meets a woman (Blunt) who he has a deep conversation with. They end up falling in love and they must fight to keep their love alive because they are being watched. Watched by the Adjustment Bureau. A group of men (presumably) that have been around for centuries making sure people stay on the path planned out for them.

So already you can see, this movie tests a lot of things. It will test a person's morals. It will test a person's religion. It will test a person's faith. The way the movie handles the subject matter is a plus as well. We're dealing with the ideas of free will, choice, love and all of the above. Had they made a mockery, somehow, of these themes than this movie would have sucked. But it's in your face the whole time, not holding back.

One of my favorite things about the movie is the chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. It is one of the best on screen romances that i've seen in quite some time and I think it had to be. The movie would have fell flat on its face had this romance been weak in any sort.

Something that struck me, maybe as its only flaw, is the Adjustment Bureau themselves. The group of guys that look over everyone can seem like a bunch of bad-asses. I mean they control everything! In trailers you see them walking through doors and ending up in a completely new place. You see them move objects that no man should have the power to move. Yet, the explanation as to why their powers work is because of the hats they wear? It sounds comical. It is comical. What happened here? A big part of the story gets barely any attention? It just didn't add up for me.

Overall, The Adjustment Bureau is a great movie. A philosophical movie, that will get you thinking. It's a fantastic movie, with great acting. But damn, that lack of logic in story kind of brings it down. Not by much though, Adjustment Bureau is a must see.

Rating: 4 out of 5