For years, I heard about the buzz
around a novel called THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE. The film was made and it
took time for it to finally get released due to having to wait for Eric Bana to grow his hair back for reshoots (he shaved
his head for the new STAR TREK). THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE is a touching
and sad romantic film. It is slightly creepy at times how a woman has been in
love with a guy who can’t control his ability to time travel due to a gene in him.
Clare first met Henry when she was six while Henry first met her when she was all grown up. She sees him as her best friend while Henry’s time traveling gene has caused him to drink a
lot. He is a librarian who finds himself naked in the past and future, and he
must steal clothes and money before he goes back to his own time.
Clare and Henry bump into younger and older
versions of themselves during the film. The narrative is non-linear at times
while telling the story of Henry’s and Clare’s romance. They get
married and the time traveling does put a little strain on their marriage in more ways than one (even when it comes to when
Clare gets pregnant). THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE plays up the romance
and the problems in their relationships while glossing over how creepy the relationship feels at times when Clare meets younger
and older versions of Henry throughout her life. Witness how his time traveling
plays havoc on their wedding day. The film is bittersweet as a man who
wants to be grounded can never be grounded due to his time traveling gene. Bana
and McAdams have great chemistry in this touching tale.
This movie review is (c)8-14-2009
David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments
to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com
