Take the time to see it or does it need a time out?
Based on the book of the same name by Audrey Niffelnegger, The Time Traveler’s Wife chronicles the lives of genetically impaired and chronally displaced Henry DeTamble and the love of his life/eventual wife Claire Abshire through their somewhat untraditional life together.
I had a very unique experience with this movie. I read the book several weeks ago, having heard that the movie starred the talented Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana. After work, I rushed to the theater ready to be entertained.
I got into the theater just as the second preview was showing. It was a rather noisy theater, but nothing really out of the ordinary – but when the movie started, there were some folks in front of me that were talking and laughing at inappropriate times – basically just killing the entire mood. It was so distracting that I unfortunately had to leave the theater.
Fun times with Henry DeTamble and Claire Abshire
The next day, I tried again and was far more successful at watching the movie.
Personally, I would compare my experience in attempting to see The Time Traveler’s Wife to the movie itself; it improves upon watching multiple times. Readers of the book already know the movie isn’t going to stack up, and it doesn’t. It’s not really meant to. However, as an adaptation, it succeeds quite well – getting the beats of Henry and Claire’s life together and taking out much of the incidental subplots that gave the book its charm and draw.
The movie has gotten panned on other sites for a number of reasons, some of which I agree with, but that doesn’t mean the movie is bad. It is, rather, enhanced by the fact that I have read the book. Unfortunately, that is also the biggest drawback to the film. I happened to attend the second showing with a good friend, who had not read the book and has no intention of doing so in the near future. He was confused and befuddled by many of the story beats and quick character introductions.
Bana really shows off his acting chops here, demonstrating a wide range of Henrys from a 28 year old alcoholic librarian to a 40 year old seasoned time traveler and family man. Rachel McAdams’ first appearance as Claire was somewhat unconvincing, but like my experience watching the movie, improved upon multiple viewings.
If you enjoyed the book, you will no doubt enjoy this movie as much as I did. If you’re not interested in reading the book, know that the movie is a poor substitute, but at the end of the day is entertaining and poignant in it of itself. Otherwise, just see it another time.
