The Adjustment Bureau

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
The Adjustment Bureau Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Sci-fi/romance hybrid mixes plot twists, serious themes.

PG-13 2011 99 minutes
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 7 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 31 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

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.

Community Reviews

Gabriel Mohler
Gabriel Mohler Adult
September 29, 2015
age 15+

MUST SEE for the mature, despite innuendo

Be wary of language and premarital sex, but this movie is totally worth watching.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Scott_C
Scott_C Adult
September 14, 2012
age 14+

Good movie and Great actors

I have to disagree with Commonsense on the topic of Positive messages. While what they say is true, it is slightly out of context. You can't look at it as if the Case Workers do things to keep people on their paths for their fate, but rather, the random daily events that happen are caused by them, not for your fate, but to lead you to your destiny. The Case Workers are a metaphor for how things happen for a reason. In the case of this movie, both character's paths were to be great and successful, and during the movie, you find out how both of their futures wouldn't be the same if they stayed together. The problem is that humans act off emotions, but the Case Workers don't, so they don't see it the same way. If anything, I see more positive message than none, mostly that you should fight for what you believe in and who you love. Don't let others determine your destiny. Another thing could be your take on the movie's thoughts on Christianity, basically considering God and angels, as the Chairman and Case Workers. It's neither portrayed as good or bad though. It is simply a metaphor and explanation for why things happen. It is a little bit of a heavy movie, but nothing compared to Inception or similar movies. The plot is clear after watching once, and makes sense the whole way through a second, and it's one of those movies that for the general audience who would care to watch this kind of movie, they are old enough.
See all 7 parent reviews

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love thrills and romance

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