Review – The Time Traveler’s Wife
August 14, 2009 by Maura Reilly
Filed under Reviews
Book the babysitter and plan your date night now. You’re going to want to see this one I suspect. The best bit is there’s enough cool sci-fi elements to The Time Traveler’s Wife, and of course an adorable Rachel McAdams, that the fella in your life won’t find watching it too much of a chore.
Based on the successful and much loved 2003 book of the same name The Time Traveler’s Wife is about Henry (Eric Bana) who has a genetic condition that causes him to travel in time, with no control over when or where he goes. His travels seem to center on events and people in his own life, primarily his wife Clare (Rachel McAdams) whom he first meets when Clare is a young girl. As their grown-up relationship progresses issues arise for the couple; first and foremost the dangers Henry encounters each time he disappears and then reappears naked and defenseless in some strange place. Clare is determined to make as normal a life as she can for them, all the time harboring the thought that too soon she may lose her husband totally and finally.
Having read the book I can tell you that the movie adaptation is faithful with just a few changes to make it work in a new format. Director Robert Schwentke (Flightplan, 2005)and writer Bruce Joel Rubin(Ghost, 1990 Deep Impact, 1998) really captured the nuances of Audrey Niffenegger’s novel and fleshed them out on the screen. This is really Rachel’s movie and she is wonderful. There is tons of chemistry between the two co-stars. I’ve been a fan of The Bana for a long time now. He always adds such honesty and believability to his characters. Henry is no exception. Given the other-worldly aspect of the time travel, you have to have someone who can ground it in reality and Eric does that so well.
There are not a lot of big names in the movie. Other than McAdams and Bana the only really recognizable person is Ron Livingston who plays Gomez, a long time friend of the couple. Ron is always a pleasure to watch and no exception as the befuddled best man at Clare and Henry’s wedding. Good stuff.
As you can probably gather this film is a bittersweet one. We all know I’m an easy cry so I was sniffing a bit during the film. (Clearly I wasn’t the only one. There were other noses being blown around me.) I think The Time Traveler’s Wife is a worthwhile investment of your movie-going dollar. The story is truly original and the cast attractive. If District 9 is sold out consider this a worthy second choice.
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