The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) ***

By Rebecca Stewart

Cast: Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Ron Livingston, Arliss Howard, Brooklyn Proulx, Carly Street, Philip Craig, Michelle Nolden, Jane McLean
Writing Credits: Bruce Joel Rubin, Audrey Niffenegger (novel)
Classification: Australia M | US PG-13 | UK 12A
Run time: 107 minutes
Director: Robert Schwentke

I always approach film adaptations with some trepidation, especially if I have read and enjoyed the book. The Time Traveler's Wife, despite my slight aversion of romance novels (it never seems to happen that way in real life), is one of my favourite books. And so, I was mostly looking forward to seeing the film.

The Time Traveler's Wife has been beautifully shot and is understated enough, much as the book is. The actors find their characters well. Eric Bana's seamless and nonchalant movement through Henry's various adult ages in the present time (and on his occasional trips to Clare's past) doesn't miss a beat and Rachel McAdams as Clare takes Henry's disappearances, reappearances and age discrepancies in her stride as well as Clare in the book.

Though, it should be noted that the film should be seen as a separate entity from the book - there is just far too much in the book than can be reasonably brought to the screen. The film has done well to do what it has, considering the depth and nature of the subject of the book. Not only does the film have to deal with Henry as a time traveller, but it also has to follow his and Clare's relationship from their 20s to their 40s.

One thing I felt was missing from the film though was Henry's trips back in time to teach his young self how to survive time travel and how to protect and look after himself while travelling.

Because the film was trying to cover so much, at times it felt as though it were rushing through events without providing enough detail or emotional attachment for the audience; as though it were skimming the surface of Clare and Henry's lives in order to cover everything the filmmakers wanted to. If an extra 30 minutes had been added to the film to add some more depth, I doubt the viewer would notice.

McAdams and Bana work well together and bring to the big screen a great story of a couple with a minor flaw in their marriage - Henry is unexplainably and unwillingly absent for occasionally extended periods of time, he goes without warning leaving Clare behind to continue living in the present, provide excuses for his absence and worry constantly about him.

While the film, in my opinion, does not do justice to the book, it's a good movie in it's own right - a devastating love story.

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