The Adjustment Bureau

Yesterday I went to the cinema to see the Adjustment Bureau. It wasn't very good. Theres a fine idea at the core of this movie and the message, that love conquers all and human beings are great, is all well and good except for the fact that nothing really happens.

Based on the short story, The Adjustment Team by Philip K. Dick here is a film that should have been Bourne Identity meets Inception. Instead we get Sleepless in Seattle meeting Bruce Almighty(complete with helpfully all powerful black guy.) Damon and Blunt have good onscreen chemistry but the simple fact that Matt Damon is told, point blank, by Terence Stamp that if Damon continues pursuing his love for Emily Blunt that it will fuck shit up for everyone and completely ignores it is really annoying. Its like being told that if you masturbate again, someone is going to stab you in the eye and still pulling your pud. Don't be surprised if someone kicks in the door and goes all Terminator on your eyeball.

Like I said though, its not strictly a bad film, it just lacks a certain cynicism that the original short story had. In it, the protagonist accepts that there are forces beyond his control after he meets one and sets about lying to his wife about what he saw. When she doesn't believe him there is a convenient door bell chime. At which point the protagonist goes away and his wife is presumably lobotomized. The fact that I think thats a great idea speaks volumes as to why I'm single.

The film batters you over the head with this sense of hopeful expectation that there not only is a higher power guiding the world and making sure nobody fucks up too bad, but it also seems to say that if you fuck with said higher power, you'll win. You'll live happily ever after and no one will ever dick around with your future again. You'll pick your own destiny, be your own boss. Wear your own shoes, that you, yes, You, picked. Also the fact that the Adjustment men(also known as Angels. Yes ANGELS) dress, speak and are named after stereotypical yuppie types pisses me off. Its like the crew of How I Met Your Mother decided to try sci fi. Suit up Matt Damon, you're going to do a lot of running around. Again. But only in the third act. For the first hour or so of the film you'll be a bit of a bitch.

In more positive notes from the movie, its excellently cast,particularly Terence Stamp as the constantly menacing Thompson. It has some fine technical work and the fact that Matt Damons character is named Senator David Norris gives me a chuckle. In summation, this film is not a complete cinematic abortion. It is not, however, worth the 9 quid to go see it. Go spend that money on something better. Like fags.