The Adjustment Bureau

Uneven Goofiness

A sci-fi adaptation usually has to have pretty strong source material to survive extra fluff shrouding the original premise. This is the accomplishment of THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, which comes from a short story by Philip K. Dick. Here, the source material is strong, but the fluff that has been added works well when interlaced with the rather fluffy source. The general premise of the film is that Matt Damon, a rising politician, must, by fate, meet a woman (Emily Blunt) named Elise in a bathroom, get inspired by her to give a rousing speech, and then never see her again, but rise to lofty places. The 'by fate' part of that is what is under constant scrutiny by a group of people within the adjustment bureau, who cause minor disturbances in everyday life to sway the course of mankind towards a preferred objective. These angel-like overseers are discovered by Damon (for no particular reason), and although they tell him that his fate is to never see Elise again, chance puts them together to the bureau's dismay. The entire film consists of Damon gradually learning more and more about the adjustment bureau, which causes for a crescendo in goofiness resulting in a schmaltzy but effective climax. Damon is a fine actor, and thus makes it easy for an audience to care for his endeavors. Especially when coupled with Emily Blunt, the film develops a charm about it that is accentuated by the surrounding goofy plotlines, magical hats, and seamless special effects. This is a film that is perhaps not smart enough to rise to greatness, but one that is endearing enough to be entertaining and a lot of fun.
The Adjustment Bureau: ★★★