The Adjustment Bureau

  • Review Date: March 1, 2011
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Thriller
  • 2011
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Sci-fi/romance hybrid mixes plot twists, serious themes.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this twist romance wrapped up in a sci-fi thriller tackles some complicated themes -- i.e. who controls our fate? -- that might be too overwhelming for tweens and younger. The way the movie addresses them is also pretty tricky to follow, though it’s sure to spur some mind-bending questions. Expect some swearing (including "s--t" and "f--k") and a few scenes with drinking, as well as one relatively tame love scene. There are also tense chase sequences, fistfights, and a shocking car accident.

  • The movie asks a big question: Do we control our own destinies, or is our fate predetermined? Here, it’s made clear that free will is a myth and that there is indeed a master plan for humanity -- and that people who stray from the path that's been set for them will face dire consequences.
  • David Norris seems to be living a charmed life as a rising star in politics, but he’s willing to give it all up for love.
  • Some extended, frantic chase scenes, a few fistfights, and one shocking car accident.
  • Some kissing, and one love scene (but no nudity).
  • Occasional swearing includes a couple of uses of "f--k" and several “s--t"s, plus “bulls--t," "hell," "ass," "damn," "goddamn," and more.
  • A Nationwide billboard is shown several times. Damon's character has an iPod.
  • Some scenes feature people drinking beers in bars.

What's the story?

On the night that his bid for senator of New York fails, irreverent candidate David Norris (Matt Damon) takes on more than he bargained for when he meets Elise (Emily Blunt), a modern dancer he thinks may be the love of his life. But at the same time, he also discovers that the world is run according to a master plan dictated by a mysterious “chairman,” who deploys suited and fedora-hatted men to make sure adjustments are made (hence the title of the movie) so no one strays too far from preordained arrangements. David, in meeting Elise, has strayed. He’s not meant to run into her. But love is messy and can’t be tamed in this film inspired by a Philip K. Dick story, and David won’t give up until he get what he wants: a happily ever after.


Is it any good?

 

This strange hybrid of a movie -- part Bourne Identity, part Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and part Romeo and Juliet (yes, it’s that knotty) -- certainly isn't perfect. To start, inconsistencies abound: Why does David’s watcher come to his aid? Is the chairman God? And the suit-and-hat men are too amorphous. There's also some genre confusion; the movie sells itself, especially in the first act, as a suspenseful thriller, but then it takes a hard left into romantic territory, making for an unsubtle transition that’s hard to shake. Though you'll probably like where it ends up, you're left with the unmistakable feeling that there was another movie in there somewhere, still waiting to unfold.

But despite its issues, THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU works. It’s a romance unlike most others we see onscreen -- taut, suspenseful, and unabashedly passionate. Damon and Blunt, though not exactly scorching, share an easy, playful, sometimes tender chemistry. Though they don’t appear hungry for each other, physically, they convince as a couple inextricably drawn to and deeply familiar with each other. No, the film’s not perfect, but neither is love -- or life.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how the movie compares to other thrillers. Is it more or less scary and violent? Which is harder for you to watch -- tense scenes or violent ones? Why?

  • What is the movie saying about people's fate? Do you agree? Do we control our own destinies, or is life mapped out for us?

  • What do you think of the characters' decisions? What would you give up, if necessary, for love?


This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Teen, 14 years old
April 23, 2011
 
Leaning towards fine
I don't think this movie was that type of movie that can use the F bomb twice and get away with it, because this wasn't a big movie. It was fine, but the 2 F bombs just were pointless.

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Kid, 13 years old
March 5, 2011
 
great
pretty great movie. if little kids r watchin just tell the m to close their eyes in the short non graphic 12 sec sex scene. the ending really topped it off

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Parent of 17 and 18 year old
March 24, 2011
 
Mainly a chick flick in my view as it is not cerebral enough or action packed enough for guys. But it certainly has strange morals and ethics. The main character, supposedly a Senatorial candidate is in the mens room, when a women comes out of one of the cubicles carrying her shoes and a bottle of champagne. She is very forward, like a prostitute would be, and he is quite taken by her and after a five minute conversation, ends up in an embrace and kissing her there in the public toilets. Not too classy, and I would have thought, very unlikely, even for a Democrat. Is he really so self-destructive, that he'd stoop to this behavior? And imagine if the scene was reversed and a guy came out of a cubicle in the womens toilet. Most women would be understandably concerned and probably ring the police. But men are such animals aren't they that what the movie presents is considered appropriate. Come on, what sexist rubbish. And then as is typical for Hollywood movies nowadays, they end up in bed very early in their relationship. But unlike other Hollywood movies, at least they had kissed first and knew each others names -- but not much else. You jump into bed first, then find out about the person. The main thing is to know if you enjoy them in bed, before bothering to get to know them. That's the modern Hollywood way.

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Kid, 12 years old
March 6, 2011
 
A+!!! Great for 11+
I LOVED IT!!! Great story!!!! Saw it today! Not violent!! 1 love scene but they don't show anything. A couple bad words here and there but its not an issue.

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Teen, 16 years old
April 3, 2011
 
I rate this film ON for ages 12+
The good stuff * Role models: David Norris seems to be living a charmed life as a rising star in politics, but he’s willing to give it all up for love. What to watch out for * Messages: The movie asks a big question: Do we control our own destinies, or is our fate predetermined? Here, it’s made clear that free will is a myth and that there is indeed a master plan for humanity -- and that people who stray from the path that's been set for them will face dire consequences. * Violence: Some extended, frantic chase scenes, a few fistfights, and one shocking car accident. * Sex: Some kissing, and one love scene (but no nudity). * Language: Occasional swearing includes a couple of uses of "f--k" and several “s--t"s, plus “bulls--t," "hell," "a*s," "da*n," "god*amn," and bas*ard. * Consumerism: A Nationwide billboard is shown several times. Damon's character has an iPod. * Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Some scenes feature people drinking beers in bars.

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Parent of 14 and 17 year old
March 25, 2011
 
Mildly entertaining and fairly clean, but silly.
As the commercials lead us to believe, it's an entertaining "puzzle" type movie, which I usually like, however, once I realized what the secret was, things took a turn toward laughable. As my husband put it, it's sad when Hollywood so blatantly shows it's ignorance of Biblical truth. And a couple of things, like the "hats", were just so silly we had to laugh. It could have been so much better... but it was mildly entertaining and fairly clean. I won't be anxiously awaiting the DVD release, once was definitely enough!

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Kid, 13 years old
March 19, 2011
 
Interesting and good.
It was an interesting movie and has an interesting concept. I think that you have to be into psychological thrillers and love storys to be into this. I loved the movie because you werenm't brought right into the suspense. They build the plot first and then they get to the thriller part. I think that people but not all people would enjoy this film. This movie is for people who liked "The Tourist" but it doesn't have as much violence.

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Teen, 14 years old
March 27, 2011
 
Good Movie
Great movie and theres really nothing bad in it. Sends a strong message that we decide our own fate and we have to ight for the things we want.

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Teen, 15 years old
March 24, 2011
 
A movie more geared to an older crowd
Good movie. There's a seen in bed but they don't show anything. There is also some swearing, but not much. David Norris is a good role model because he shows determination and tells us to fight for what he believes in. He also gives up seeing Elise so she can have the future she always wanted.

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Teen, 16 years old
March 6, 2011
 
11-16 not 4-9
this is the best movie that is in theatres right now!!!!

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This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Studio:Universal Pictures
Director:George Nolfi
Cast:Anthony Mackie, Emily Blunt, John Slattery, Matt Damon
Genre:Thriller
Run time:99 minutes
Theatrical release date:March 4, 2011
DVD release date:June 21, 2011
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:brief strong language, some sexuality and a violent image

This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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