[Last Film I Watch] The Age of Adaline (2015) [5/10]
Title: The Age of Adaline
Year: 2015
Country: USA, Canada
Language: English, Portuguese, Italian
Genre: Romance, Drama
Director: Lee Toland Krieger
Writers:
J. Mills Goodloe
Salvador Paskowitz
Music: Rob Simonsen
Cinematography: David Lanzenberg
Cast:
Blake Lively
Michiel Huisman
Harrison Ford
Ellen Burstyn
Kathy Baker
Amanda Crew
Anthony Ingruber
Lynda Boyd
Richard Harmon
Rating: 5/10
Thematically this movie is a romantic tall-tale, taps into the same territory of immorality like Richard Schenkman’s inventive indie Sci-Fi THE MAN FROM EARTH (2007, 7/10), Adaline Bowman (Lively), a woman stuck at the age of 29 forever thanks to a miracle happened when an car accident incurred on her, which an omniscient voiceover laboriously tries to explain from a scientific angle, as if today's technology has completely solved the mystery of living forever, even only superficially, we don’t buy it for a minute, instead of justifying the unjustifiable, why not just leave it open? Uncanny things happen all the time.
So, since 1930s, the non-aging Adaline has led a solitary life and moves away after a period of time in order not to arouse suspicion, which means she cannot develop a long-term relationship with anyone, save the blind, and the only person knows her secret is her daughter Flemming (Burstyn), already an old woman at present. Eight decades have passed, her secret has never been disclosed, just when Adaline decides to move onto her next destination under a different identity, she meets Ellis Jones (Huisman), a philanthropist destined to win her over with his gorgeous appeal and devoted affection, persuaded by Flemming and also jaded with all the loneliness she has endured, being a sexy woman who is as hot as Blake Lively, Adaline decides for once, engages into this passionate romance. Until she meets Ellis’ parents, she suddenly recognises that William (Ford), Ellis’ father, is one of her lovers, whom she jilted in the 60s when he prepared to propose to her. How far-fetched is that?
Although firstly Adaline explains away the uncanny resemble by claiming she is Adaline, the woman William dated, is her deceased mother, but sooner or later, the truth will be uncovered, and running away again, yes, another car accident dutifully deployed to turn everything back on track. I hope I am not nitpicking, but this plot is too conveniently whimsical, not helped by the voiceover struggles to connect the phenomenon with a more macroscopic view, when the entire scenario is based on an illogical fantasy, making it sound logical is the worst move to manoeuvre.
Blake Lively is demure and fabulous to behold, the most fitting role for her to date, as she dons haute couture of different decades as the perfect mannequin, and headlining the soppy romance with a slow-burning pace, but her emotional range is rather limited considering her prolonged presence over a century, wisdom doesn’t come with ages for Adaline, maybe her mental capacity is also stuck in the age of 29 too. The heartthrob Huisman finally is offered a leading role, his Ellis is plain perfect as well, a default in the genre. Hollywood has its tradition to invite exotic stunners, but rarely they stay long-standing, especially for male. Ford is granted the most juicy part since he is the one who would be struck by the revelation, but his William takes it pretty well, no further questions apart from imploring Adaline not to give up on Ellis, hey! old man, you and your son both sleep with the same woman, that doesn’t bother you for a minute?
Alas, one bonus point is the cinematography, quaintly alluring in both texture and palette, DP David Lanzenberg definitely should be recruited to some more ambitious projects, let’s wait and see, the same wish to the young director Lee Toland Krieger, rom-com rarely shines if there is no humour spiked, choose your next film cautiously.
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