“AN UNCONVINCING DISAPPEARING ACT”
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Ron Livingston, Jane McLean and Arliss Howard
Directed by: Robert Schwentke
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements, brief disturbing images, nudity and sexuality.
Genre: Drama, Romance
By John Delia
That The Time Traveler’s Wife is an original movie with a creative plot, I cannot deny. And I didn’t catch one flaw by the talented cast. Oh, the cinematography is splendid and the costumes are well thought out. Sounds like I liked the film right? Well, not so fast. The film was a little problematic and not a simple convincing love story that it should have been.
The plot centers on Henry (Bana), a time traveler who posses special genes that allow him to disappear in one time and reappear in another. On one such occasion he appears in a field and meets Clare, a young girl. Her curiosity and gullible personality during this chance meeting instills a whim of love at first sight. As the young woman blossoms in time she (McAdams) runs into Henry again in a library and strikes up a conversation. Their budding romance takes root and they eventually marry. Although they are happy, Henry’s inability to stop time traveling causes problems in their marriage.
Now as simple a plot as this may seem, it does get quite perplexing at times trying to keep up with the dimension changer as he flops in an out of time periods. It seems that his trips are mostly meaningless and do not show him having any forethought on why he shows up at various stages of his life other than to propagate the love story within the movie.  I must have missed something, but where is he when he is away from his wife for long periods of time? I have not read the book, but I have the feeling there is a lot more to the story.
I think the film is fun to watch, especially the wedding scene which is comical. And I did like the way Henry had to steal clothing every time he entered a different time. The acting and chemistry between McAdams and Bana is decent, but more so from McAdams who has this admirable screen charm. However, I wish the script had given them more screen time together as their relationship lacked conviction.
Directing the film must have been a nightmare keeping the lens very busy and on target in the many locations and time periods needed for the shoot. Some of the night scenes show Schwentke’s brilliance, even though his disappearing man trick stumbled now and then.
The film is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for thematic elements, brief disturbing images, nudity and sexuality. The nudity is fleeting and mostly showing Bana’s bare-behind.
FINAL ANALYSIS: The film is creative but not very convincing. (3 of 5 Palm Trees)