The Age of Adaline
2015
***
Director: Lee Toland Krieger
Cast: Blake Lively, Harrison Ford, Michiel Huisman, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, Lynda Boyd, Hugh Ross, Richard Harmon, Fulvio Cecere
In 1937, a freak near-fatal accident halts Adaline Bowman's ageing at the age of 29. In the years that follow, she repeatedly moves and changes her identity to remain undetected. But what will she do when she falls in love? With a story that spans decades and is softly narrated by Hugh Ross, Lee Toland Krieger's film feels like an adaptation of a novel, but is in fact based on an original screenplay by J. Mills Goodloe and Salvador Paskowitz. This is a rather enjoyable romantic fantasy with a strong lead performance by Blake Lively. However, her love interest Ellis is a walking, talking romance-novel cliché, a millionaire philanthropist so persistent yet charming that his behaviour borders on stalking. How will the mismatched couple end up together? The dreadful ending conveniently ensures that they do not have to confront any difficult questions. In the end, I was also left wondering how the man from her past knows her as Adaline Bowman.
