basset4 Review of The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

Movie story-line greatly improves book's (flawed) story-line

[7/10 · 14 August 2009]

The movie is actually pretty good. It is flawed, yes, but manages to say in one hour and a half all that the book sort of managed in 500+ pages. But of course, you might say, it's not fair to compare the book to the movie, and I guess it really isn't. Although I'm beginning to see why some people call Eric Bana's acting abilities into question, he, Rachel McAdams (Clare), and Hailey McCann (Alba) actually managed to pull off a pretty convincing portrait of a loving family. As to those who gripe about the lack of scientific explanations (why exactly DOES he time travel again?) I completely agree with you--I am more a sci-fi fan than a romance/drama, but we have to remember that the film isn't SUPPOSED to be sci-fi. The time-traveling should be seen more as the metaphorical obstacle which tests the couple's love and proves WHY we should give a damn as to whether or not they deserve a happy ending. That's how good storytelling works. As for the movie's ending--I loved it. It was uplifting and bittersweet, but you got the impression that Clare and Alba would manage on their own. Clare has more of a backbone in the movie; she doesn't in the book (yes, yes, I know. I promised I wouldn't compare the book/movie). But by the final scene of the movie, I was convinced that this couple proved that they loved each other. It's a movie. That's all there is. Much better than the book's ending, where she brainlessly waits for him until she's 80 after his death. Ugh. Now THAT was depressing!