Review of The Adjustment Bureau (2011) by Azra I — 09 Aug 2014

How this got above 2 stars, I don't know. Yes, the on-screen chemistry of Damon and Blunt seems real. But everything in the movie beyond that is a emotionless surface-level treatment of, well, life itself. The characters are poorly developed -- you keep thinking one of the "adjustment bureau" members will show some passion, development, or something. Nope. You think the ending will be some big reveal about the nature of God, free will or life. Nope. You want a little more depth or soul searching as Damon and Blunt are exposed to "the way the universe works". Nope. Hope I didn't ruin it for you but this movie lives on the promise of insight into some pretty big ideas and fails to plumb any of it. The best line in the movie that wraps this thing up is the final scene where a lead of the adjustment bureau says.

"Did you really think you'd reach the chairman and change your fate if you did or write your own? It doesn't work like that and I told you why." And without any further explanation the speech is interrupted by a another character with a "Message"... It appears that "the chairman" has nothing better to do than set up "tests" of characters and love, then see if the characters pass the test. The implications of this idea are never explored or developed which leaves the premise of this movie (several actually) so artificial that I feel I'd like 2hrs of my life back.