Movie Review: The Time Traveler’s Wife

Okay, so if you have a functioning head with eyes in it, and have spent any time downtown in the last three weeks, you will have seen the poster for The Time Traveler’s Wife about a million times.

I know this isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. And yes, I know that District 9 opens this week, and that this is the INTERNETS and the INTERNETS like District 9. But we had passes to The Time Traveler’s Wife.

And also, we need to use this as an opportunity to discuss something with you guys. After seeing Eric Bana on the Tonight Show earlier this week, promoting this movie, Jeff and I have become Eric Bana extremists. The guy is pretty much the funniest thing around, and we had no idea that he had a somewhat legendary background as a comic actor in Australia before becoming a movie star. He’s totally the new Billy Zane. But a better actor. Sorry, Billy Zane. :(

Now, like all ethical journalists, we are aware of our biases, and will try to account for them. However, you must always remember that Samsonow and I have a strong pro-Bana stance that may unknowingly be reflected in our work. Yes, E.B. has made a few questionable movie choices, but come on, you animals, he’s only human. If you cut Eric Bana, will he not bleed? And how many revered Australian sketch comedy shows have you guys been in the cast of? That’s right, none. Now take a knee.

Anyway, much as I wanted to see the Time Traveler’s Wife, I was unavailable last night. So my good friend Tess volunteered to go on my behalf and jotted down her opinions. And I’m not going to lie, she makes it sound better than I expected. I love Eric Bana enough to be straight with him, so I will admit to not having very high expectations for this.

From roving reporter Tess:

“Adapting a book into a movie is always a precarious task – especially when the book is complicated, which I’m assuming The Time Traveler’s Wife is.

Usually I prefer to see movie versions of books I HAVEN’T read, so I don’t go in with preconceived ideas of what I think the movie should look like. This way, I can take the movie at face value, and usually enjoy it much more. I went into The Time Traveler’s Wife knowing very little about the story, and I think it actually worked against me this time.

When the movie was over, and I was listening to the conversations around me, I heard things like, “It was very close to the book” and other positive remarks. Discussing it with my friends who HAD read the book, they understood details of the movie which kind of confused me, or left me wishing for a more in-depth exploration.

For instance, the movie doesn’t explain why Henry and his father are estranged or how Henry knows he’s going to travel. The romance between Clare and Henry is also unbelievable at times. I enjoy romantic schlock, but part of the appeal is building up to it; something sorely lacking in a movie trying to cover so much in a short period of time.

My wish for more complexity made it difficult to really connect with the characters, and in turn, it didn’t affect me as deeply as it could have. I would be lying if I said parts of it didn’t make me teary, but I think it had the potential to make me bust out the box of Kleenex, and it fell short.

Wait for it to come out on DVD or the W Network to put it on heavy rotation between Two Weeks Notice and Bridget Jones’ Diary.”

The Time Traveler’s Wife is in theatres today.

MOVIE TIMES COURTESY OF Edmonton Movie Guide:

Cineplex Odeon North Edmonton
14231 137th Avenue, Edmonton
Fri – Thu1:20 4:10 6:50 9:40

Empire 10 Clareview Cinemas, Edmonton
4211-139th Avenue, Edmonton
Fri – Thu1:30 4:10 6:50 9:30

Empire City Centre 9 Cinemas, Edmonton
10200-102nd Ave. #1329, Edmonton
Fri – Thu12:30 3:20 6:45 9:30

Empire Westmount Centre Cinemas, Edmonton
2003 Westmount Shopping Centre, 111 Ave. at Groat Rd., Edmonton
Fri 7:10 9:55
Sat – Sun1:00 4:00 7:10 9:55
Mon – Thu7:10 9:55

Galaxy Cinemas @ Sherwood Park Mall
2020 Sherwood Dr., Sherwood Park
Fri – Thu12:20 4:10 7:10 10:00

Gemini Cinemas, Fort Saskatchewan
9922 100 Street, Fort Saskatchewan
Fri – Thu7:00 9:20

Grandin Theatre
101-22 Sir Winston Churchill Ave., St. Albert
Fri – Thu1:20 3:20 5:20 7:20 9:25

Leduc Cinema
4702 50 St., Leduc
Fri – Thu1:05 3:25 7:05 9:25

Parkland Cinema 7
130 Century Crossing, Spruce Grove
Fri7:00 9:20
Sat – Sun1:00 3:20 7:00 9:20
Mon7:00 9:20
Tue1:00 3:20 7:00 9:20
Wed7:00 9:20
Thu1:00 3:20 7:00 9:20

Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton
8770-170 St., Edmonton
Fri12:40 4:10 7:10 10:00
Sat – Thu12:50 4:10 7:10 10:00

South Edmonton Common
1525 99 St, Edmonton
Fri – Thu1:00 4:10 7:00 9:50