The Age of Adaline
Director: Lee Toland Kriege
Starring: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford
112 mins; Class 12;
KRS Releasing Ltd
Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has a secret. She is 107 years old. Yet she has the looks of a 29-year-old, the age she was when a freak accident halted her aging process. Adaline spends long decades on the run to avoid anyone discovering the truth together with her daughter, now a senior citizen, who is her only ally.
She has also avoided long-term romantic commitments, until she meets the charismatic Ellis (Michael Huisman) who is clearly smitten by her.
Initially resistant to his advances, she finally succumbs. Yet, their burgeoning relationship leads to an unexpected encounter which threatens to bring Adaline’s unique secret past out into the open.
Given that introduction, you would be forgiven for thinking that The Age of Adaline is yet another slushy romantic love story from the Nicholas Sparks’ stable. However, this original screenplay by J. Mills Goodloe and Salvador Paskowitz is definitely more compelling than most of Sparks’ adaptations, thanks to its intriguing premise, it’s appealing main character and excellent performances.
Granted, The Age of Adaline may not have the most substantial of narratives, with nothing profound to say about its underlying theme of eternal youth and its consequences.
Driven by a moving and sympathetic performance
Moreover, it does have one too many plot contrivances, the scientific explanation behind Adaline’s condition is rather far-fetched and the way the inevitable big reveal is made is pretty underwhelming.
The film also suffers from an over-reliance on voice-over narration to fill in much of Adaline’s backstory.
But this is less intrusive than it could have been, thanks to the immaculate production design that recreates the various eras Adaline has lived through – from the 1920s of her youth, through World War II, the swinging 1960s and beyond, until we arrive in modern times.
Through all this, director Lee Toland Krieger keeps it simple, allowing the story to unfold at a steady pace, while keeping the drama compelling and the schmaltz to a bare minimum. For all its many flaws, however, there is something utterly captivating about this romantic drama tinged with a little fantasy.
It is driven by a moving and sympathetic performance from Blake Lively as Adeline. The actress, possibly best known for her six-year stint on TV’s Gossip Girl, gives a remarkable mature turn as the eponymous heroine.
Lively is matched by a superb Harrison Ford, in a small but pivotal role (can’t say too much without giving spoilers) where he shows some deep and genuine feelings.
The incongruity of the 80-something Ellen Burstyn calling the 28-year-old Lively ‘mom’ is dispelled by the warm chemistry between the two actresses.