The Time Traveler’s Wife

Rated: M

Running Time: 107 minutes

Director: Robert Schwentke

Cast: Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams

Release Date: 5^th November, 2009

When author Audrey Niffenegger released her debut novel “The Time Traveler’s Wife”, she never expected it would be such a hit, spending weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list. With it’s charming mix of romance and science fiction it’s no surprise Hollywood came knocking, and this week we can see the film adaptation of the novel in Australian cinemas.

Eric Bana stars as Henry, a librarian with a genetic disorder that causes him to travel to another time and place suddenly, leaving behind a pile of clothes and some very confused people. On one of his travels he meets six-year old Clare, and while it’s the first time she’s seen him, Henry has travelled from the future where they are married. Years later when a twenty something Clare (Rachel McAdams) sees a non time travelling Henry; she has known him her whole life, while he is meeting her for the first time.

It’s all very confusing, and the illogical plot is a lot easier to understand while reading the book, when you have time to let it sink in. As always with film adaptations, much detail has been lost trying to fit the 500 pages into 107 minutes, and what is touching on the page almost ends up being creepy on screen, especially the scenes between thirty year old Henry and six year old Clare.

Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams are both very easy on the eye, do a good job at their characters and have pleasant chemistry together, but lack the fiery love described in the book.

“The Time Traveler’s Wife” is an enjoyable romantic comedy if you’re just looking for a nice romance, a few tears and seeing Eric Bana with his kit off. But fans of the book will feel frustrated by the lacklustre adaptation, and viewers unfamiliar with the novel will probably be left confused and wonder what all the fuss was about.

Two and a half popcorns out of five.

For interviews with Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams plus a complete guide to what’s worth watching at the cinema, tune into Movie Juice this Saturday night 7:15pm on Movie Extra.

Reviewed by Alicia Malone.