MOVIE REVIEW ... THE TIME TRAVELLER'S WIFE

MOVIE REVIEW ...

THE TIME TRAVELLER'S WIFE

Those who remember Eric Bana's performances in the early 90's comedy series Full Frontal must be startled at his career transformation. From creating slapstick laughs to a renowned dramatic actor, his skills have since developed remarkably. 'Time Traveller' doesn't necessarily stretch him too much, although his ability in keeping a straight face amongst its preposterous story should earn him kudos for perseverance. Born with a rare genetic disorder enabling him to instantly travel in time, Librarian Henry (Eric Bana) longs for normality. When he meets Clare (Rachel McAdams), he instantly falls for her and of the new hope she brings. Marrying and settling down, the couple attempt to find a cure for his affliction. This is hard to achieve due to the incredulity of friends, although their love infuses a strong bond despite the ripple effects of their actions. The Time Traveller's Wife is one of those films where the brain definitely needs to be left at the door. For to work out the many illogical sequences and bizarre plotting would give the most pedantic of people a severe headache. Nothing about it should work and in some cases it doesn't. It's entirely due to the performers that it creeps over the line. Although it's sad to think that a genre once the bastion of witty sophistication has plumbed the depths of pure fantasy. Like many recent efforts 'Time Traveller' suffers from its complete separation from reality which automatically disengages the viewer from any character empathy. Although the concept is intriguing and parts of its execution is sublime, it misses on any crucial emotional pull. It's as if the very idea robs the genuine chemistry needed between the characters as they spend a lot of time apart due to Henry's condition. There are quite a lot of very good scenes even if events become increasingly muddled. This confusion masks the fact that there is hardly any romance at all with a sweet sadness overhanging every sequence. You can blame the direction or the writers, either way the end result is a strange concoction. Maybe it's time for Bana to return to his comedic origins as his long stint in drama seems to have temporarily hit a pitstop. With only flashes of inspiration diverting from the terminal lack of passion, 'Time Traveller's futuristic leanings makes one wish for the genre's glory days of the past. Movie Review Rating 5 / 10 Movie Review by Patrick Moore The Time Traveller's Wife released in Australia on Thursday 5th November 2009. If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review The Time Traveller's Wife Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia. Offical HomePage click HERE