the trailer was ok and the reviews also generally positive
warnings of rom-com-ish so best stay away you (older) men
star blake lively a teenage girl idol from hit tv series gossip girl
curiousity despite all that means it gets the cheap tuesday award
a voiceover introduces us to adeline bowman in san francisco 2014
aerial footage of her driving over the golden gate and into the city
then seen handing over cash for a fake passport to a young man
she admonishing him for his recklessness and very serious felony
ah - this lady is very smart, very street-wise and very confident
and with a need to change identity on a regular basis it seems
next seen at work in the city library and dealing with old films
an opportunity to screen them in private - the voiceover returns
archival footage of san francisco in 1901 when adaline was born
leading up to a car accident in 1935 when she stopped ageing
assisted by a lightning strike and a passing comet - freaky stuff
though the voice uses scientific jargon - as proven in 2035 - huh?
good - got it - back to the present day and adaline at a nye party
she does look stunning - statuesque, sanguine and yet quite solitary
intentionally so - she has a secret and shuns small talk and intimacy
the main man makes an appearance and does his best to get through
ellis jones (michiel huisman from game of thrones) is initially repelled
on new years day - adaline's birthday - she has lunch with her daughter
she now in her eighties - yep - improbable - but by now we're into it
for me i'm ok with the concept - call it science-fiction - it is well done
it feels so - rich - with amazing attention to detail and plenty to look at
ellis pursues adaline - he is rich, young and a good-looking philanthropist
their dating involves each taking the other to an unseen part of san francisco
he - an underground bulk of a ship - she - to an old indoor drive-in theatre
real or not these add to a sense of adventure for them and us the audience
despite herself she lets him in (ahem) and agrees to a weekend out of town
off to his parents 40th wedding anniversary in rural oregon 2 hours away
and a huge shock for adaline - his dad - a lover of hers 40 years prior
he - william (harrison ford) likewise in shock - she has not aged at all
adaline attempting to pass it off as she the daughter of his past love
the film now goes up another notch - we're in totally new territory
william and adaline's history and ending explained in flashback
adaline disappearing on him as she makes the 10-yearly relocate
it's all quite engrossing - and the remote rural setting adds to it all
and the plot further complicated with william being an astronomer
has named a comet after adaline - della - it and her both close calls
almost cheesy - but - harrison ford for one over and above in his role
the ending - well - kind of predictable - but with that quite welcome
then the voice makes a comeback to provide a scientific explanation
spoils it really - could have been handled so much better methinks
this patronising voice more annoying than useful - but a reminder
blake lively is a (female) teen idol - they will be in the audience
the photo-shopped promo poster confirming they well in mind
ok - but at the expense of the full endorsement of other film-ees
i loved the curious case of benjamin button - this up there too
similar concept - human ageing warped - but this falls short
a lack of confidence i feel that the film is fully standalone
possibly explaining why reviewers saying it is forgettable
though - blake lively - not so - we'll be seeing more of her...
