  
The Time Traveler's WifeMPAA Rating:
 for thematic elements, brief disturbing images, nudity and sexuality.Reviewed by: David Criswell, Ph.D. Very Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:
Adults, Teens, Family
Genre:
Sci-Fi, Romance, Drama, Adaptation
Length:
1 hr. 48 min.
Year of Release:
2009
USA Release:
August 14, 2009 (wide—2,700 theaters)
“The Time Traveler's Wife” is a movie with a wonderful premise but mediocre execution. It is the story of a man who involuntarily “slips” back and forth through time. The absurdities of the time slipping need not be explained, and frankly would have been better off not being explained (a genetic disorder is apparently to blame… a “chronogene”). Nevertheless, his body is attracted to family members and loved ones, thus appearing at various times in history to his wife and family. It is based on a book, and I suspect the book is far better than the movie. The problems with the film begin with poor pacing and an underdeveloped script. Were it not for Rachel McAdams, I would never have believed in the romance at all. She did a wonderful job convincing me that she was really in love with this man, but the script (as we have come to expect from Hollywood) has him having sex with her on their first date, followed by the inexplicable line “how did we meet?” Now, it is not surprising that sex scenes are the only way that Hollywood seems to know to “show” love, but, in real life people, have sex without love all the time. Bollywood develops romance without sex by developing characters and by displaying acts of sacrifice and commitment. Hollywood just has an obligatory sex scene… but I digress. The first half of the film seems to set the story, and the second half starts to become interesting, and yet I still felt incomplete. The potential for a great movie was there, but as it was filmed, it was a tedious plodding of time slipping and nude scenes with a poignant ending. As our hero slips in and out of time, he is supposed to look different ages, but only once did he really appear different to me. The rest of the time he looked the same age. It was as if the director or make-up artist didn't take the time to really anticipate what the actor would look like in ten or twenty years. Only once did a smattering of gray hairs effect his appearance. For the Christian viewer, the movie poses several problems. The first is nudity. For some reason, the idea of traveling through time nude has become a science fiction cliche. Exactly why this is has never been explained. Nevertheless, each time he travels through time he appears naked and must steal clothes. In one case, he steals women's clothes and gets into a fight with a “homphobe.” His wife also shows her behind in one scene, as well. With the addition of the foul language, which is fairly heavy, this movie borders on an R rating, though there is only one really violent scene. Politically, the movie is largely neutral, although there is a joke about marrying into a “bad family.” We are told, “her father is a Republican… AND a hunter!” Disgusted, they decide to be “tolerant,” but this foreshadows something that happens later in the film, which could easily be taken as a slap shot at hunters. Now this is by no means a bad film… just an incomplete one. By that I mean that the movie feels incomplete to me. Rachel McAdams made me believe in the love story, but the script never did. By the time the subplot involving children develops, half the film has been wasted. The rather poignant ending redeems the film to some degree, and I am sure that the film will find its niche among some fans, but I cannot give it a thumbs up… especially for Christian audiences. Far better, and more believable love stories (I am not referring to the science fiction element, but the love story itself) have been made over the years. Wait until DVD for this one. Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Heavy See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.   Positive
Negative - This movie is extremely depressing and unsettling. I thought that this movie would be an interesting romance/drama. Instead it was unpleasant, unhappy, and generally a waste of time. The premise of this movie is that a man, with a gene which causes him to time travel, comes in and out of the life of his true love. Unfortunately, the movie focuses on the miserable and unavoidable parts of the man's life. It opens with the death of him mother, and closes with his own premature death. Inbetween is a suprising amount of nudity, law breaking, and sexuality. Positive - I was surprised to find the negative comments here. I think it's a beautiful love story, and very nicely handled. The one spot that did bother me, as mentioned here by others, is how she meets him for “his” first time, they go to his apartment and, yeah, in my mind --- she rapes him—(the reviewer here likes HER character???) ***SPOILER*** When he has the vasectomy—to avoid killing any more fetuses, because of his genetic disorder—she decides to get pregnant again anyway! All in all, though, I pack the hankies, it's an emotional flick! (I still cry when he tells his mom that he met a girl) The nudity is barely noticeable - no “private parts” showing. It should be obvious that if one's body travels the clothes get left behind. (Standard “scientific” principle!) It adds a bit of comic relief to a serious condition. And a realistic note, as well. I like the way storytellers make these things happen for a reason in peoples lives. His travels seem to take him to lessons he needs at that time. [If we pay attention, God gives us lessons as we need them, too.] I didn't notice any big use of profanity. [Mostly “Aw, sh*t!” when he disappears at inopportune times, and MODIFIED use of the “F”-word] There's a lot of positive life-lessons here. I like this movie a lot. I have not read the book, but from what I've heard, I think I'll stick to the condensed movie version. It's a good love story. Positive - This movie was amazing! I can't believe how good it was! Although he travels without his clothes, there is only one moment where they show him nude, and it's only from the back. There is no “sex” scene at all. They show them kissing and then the next seen is they wake up in bed together, and that's it. Nothing more than that. He makes every decision based on what he believes is best for his wife, and puts her first. There are funny moments, and sad moments, but over all, amazing amazing movie! I completely suggest this movie! Neutral
Neutral - I saw this movie with my girlfriend, and her family. Some of my Teen Sunday School class were also at the theatre. That is a very uncomfortable position when in the first ten minutes of the movie, I know every detail of both of the main characters' rear anatomy! The time travelers wife is a good movie showing the trials of the unexpected on a marriage. Without the Sci-Fi element, mental illness and cancer could have accomplished the same trials. The first half of the movie is confusing. I heard so many times: “What? How? When?” Later the movie hits issues. like living for each other, miscarriages, effects of one-party decisions. This could have been a Sci-Fi “Fireproof,” but instead you get a garbled mess which does actually turn into a beautiful tale of marriage and family survival!! Neutral - I have not yet seen the film version of Audrey Niffenegger's spectacular novel of the same name- THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE. I was hoping that the film makers would do the book justice, but according to critic's reviews, this may not be the case. It's true that in the book, Henry DeTamble's peculiar slipping in and out of time disorder defined by a gene called Chrono-Displacement for which Henry have no control over it. ***SPOILER ALERT*** He could literally be visiting the same event from multiple angles and times like the accident that took his mother's life. ***SPOILER END*** Neutral - Although the storyline seems exciting, I was left wanting. There were a few offensive scenes; premarital sex, nudity, some foul language, the fighting of the “homophobe” and the constant stealing of clothing. Most of these were quick and minimal compared to a vast majority of films. I agree that without the acting of Rachel McAdams, I may have missed the allure of a love story. You never really got that connection from Eric Bana. It seemed at first his actions were brought on more by duty or what he thought he should do with her. Though he confessed his devotion and did all that he could later on to make their relationship tranquil, it didn't quite reach the potential. The mental picture of the embryo time traveling out of the mother was very upsetting as well. Overall, tolerable, but not one to see twice. I believe the movie could have been executed differently. Negative
Negative - My grilfriend and I are both Christians and are waiting until marriage before we consummate our relationship, which is biblical. She likes “chick flicks,” and she has seen two sci-fi movies with me thus far this summer so I promised I would go see this with her. As a Christian and an experienced moviegoer, I had a few problems with this film. |
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