The Adjustment Bureau: Review By Fallenlords

Most of the time a 'short story' is short for a reason. I am sure when Philip K Dick decided to write this story there was probably a good reason he didn't turn it into a novel. In much the same way this should never have been turned into a film. This story warrants an episode of the Twilight Zone, at best, and the fact they stretched it out to be a whole movie leaves you with a film lacking any real substance.

In fact the whole film is a cliché in itself, about how love conquers all - yawn. Conquering all is fair enough but in this film we are talking about some heavyweight players thrown into the mix. Like Angels and .. wait for it ... GOD. Of course this is never properly confirmed, instead we are shown a load of Office Clerks who run through a lot of doors wearing silly hats.

So the whole premise of the story is boy (Matt Damon) meets girl (Emily Blunt) and they fall in love. But they are being kept apart because GOD doesn't want them to be together because it doesn't fit 'the plan'. Well the revised 120 millionth edition of the plan, (spoiler) because in one edition they were suppose to be together shock/horror. That fundamentally is the film, can the two of them overcome the obstacles so they can be together?

These Angels are not your normal sort, these don't look Angelic nor do they have wings or anything. In fact they look a bit cheap, wearing 50's/60's fashion so they blend in well to the modern world. Highlighting themselves even more by wearing stupid looking hats. If you see a guy wearing a Trilby, apart from laughing at how stupid they look, remember to consider they could be an Angel. But these hats are not just hats they have a dual purpose, the hats allows the Angels to go through doors. Not normal doors, but normal doors that are portals. Here the effects team spared no expense, open an office door it leads to ...... a stadium. Open an office stationary cupboard it leads to .... an empty warehouse. The most amazing part of the film for me was the door chase, it was real edge of your seat stuff. Seeing people running through lots of doors chasing each other ... yawn.

Elise played by Emily Blunt must also be the most understanding woman in not only the world, but the entire universe. How many times can you stand-up/leave a woman and she forgives you without question? Fair enough to enjoy some films you need to forget reality and logic. I can go with the Trilby wearing Angels and even the fast travel door system. But a forgiving woman that can forgive the same guy on multiple occasions, now that stretched the imagination a little too far.

Overall this whole film could have been compacted into a half hour of viewing. It's pleasant enough and the acting is fine. But if the ending of this film is anything to go by I wouldn't worry too much about upsetting the 'supreme being'. At the end you will probably either love this film or be kicking yourself that you just wasted your time watching it. I fall into the latter category and the word that springs to mind when thinking about this film is just 'tripe'.