The Adjustment Bureau

Matt Damon stars as David Norris - an up-and-coming New York politician who screws up his chance to become the state's youngest Senator. At the election night "celebration", he meets Elise (Emily Blunt), who lifts his spirits and inspires him to give a speech that saves his career. David is fascinated with Elise and does everything he can to find her, again. However, some mysterious men in very dapper hats, Harry (Anthony Mackie) and Richardson (John Slattery), are trying to prevent the two from ever building on their spark.

Why would Harry and Richardson want to stop true love among the smitten?

What is this plan they are dedicated to protecting?

Who is in control of that plan?

The Adjustment Bureau is a curious mix of science fiction and romance, which I enjoyed much more when it was mysterious Sci Fi. Writer/Director George Nolfi (based on the short story by Philip K. Dick) gives us a very interesting premise mixed with danger, intrigue, and rebellion, but a little too much gooey love story.

When running at full speed, Nolfi fills The Adjustment Bureau with some daring chase scenes, lots of foreboding danger and an intellectual exercise that has us wondering who or what these men in dapper hats work for, why they have so much power and what David could ever do to defeat them when he realizes he must disobey their commands to be with the woman of his dreams.

The tone becomes quite sinister at times, especially since the audience is never sure if the one in charge of The Plan is God, Fate or something more nefarious. That might cause some confusion, but the audience is spending enough time and energy pulling for David, you might get right past that confusion.

You end up rooting for David because of Damon. He is so good at being determined, and makes us realize his feelings for Elise are not some boyhood crush, but something more intense. Damon always shows the right amount of fear and anger in the face of those who seem to have so much more power to control him, and it's fun watching him show us David using his brain to figure out what he can do to overcome these omnipresent mysterious men with dapper hats. His attempts to outsmart the bad guys can be comical at times, but a fun comical, especially since he has good chemistry with Mackie.

The Adjustment Bureau might not end up where you hope, but the ride there is awesome.

The Adjustment Bureau is rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexuality and a violent image.