Eric Banas Henry DeTamble is a time traveler.
He meets Rachel McAdams Clare Abshire in what appears to be his mid-20s. She already knows him and has since she was six. Henry doesnt know Clare because at that time he hadnt gone back into the past to meet her. Henry cant time travel to a place hes never been before or to someone unless he knows them already. He also cant control his travel. It happens when it happens.
-- Trailer, times, theaters.
The Time Travelers Wife explains her life in time-line fashion as we experience life. You are a baby, you are young, you grow old. You die. Henrys life is non-linear. Sometimes hes old. Sometimes hes young.
Great concept. Poor execution from Ghost writer Bruce Joel Rubin and director Robert Schwentke (Flightplan). A movie that runs 1:40 based on a novel as complex as Audrey Niffeneggers has no chance. Double that trouble when the topic is as difficult to comprehend as time travel.
You dont get much other than surface development of the character of Henry and Clare and their friends neighbors, doctors, family, people critical to the depth of the story are cardboard cutouts merely introduced to fill in some plot blanks.
Regular readers know I think most movies are too long. Once in awhile, one is too short. The Time Travelers Wife desperately needs another 1:40 to give you details needed to make it a great movie. And there is a great movie somewhere in this mess. It just didnt get made.
The Time Travelers Wife drags so much that you will wish you could be a time traveler and to speed past the slow spots and its all slow spots.
Mr. Movie rating: 2 stars
Rated PG-13 for mature themes, brief nudity. It opens Friday, Aug. 14 at the Carmike 12 and at Fairchild Cinemas 12.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it's your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on video.
2 stars to 1 star: Don't bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
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