Henry de Tamble (Eric Bana) works as a librarian but is also a time-traveler - a genetic anomaly causes him to go uncontrollably to anywhere in the past or future, leaving his clothes behind. He is six years old the first time he travels, and he gets used to doing anything to find clothes and waiting to go back to his normal life again. In early adulthood, he meets Clare (Rachel McAdams) and she instantly overwhelms him with both herself and her knowledge of him. Later in his life, he will travel back to meet Clare when she is six and visit her often. Their romance swiftly and completely envelops them, while Henry’s condition provides unique problems and an uncertain outcome to their lives.

CRITIQUE

Romantic dramas are a tricky business on screen. Aside from classics of literature like The House of Mirth, the tendency toward melodrama is too great. On the printed page, this kind of heightened emotion can work because readers can internalize it so much more; on film, it is easy to cross the line into camp. With this film, the clever plot conceit of time travel assists in keeping the effect restrained. The Time Traveler’s Wife is both romantic and dramatic, although the story strains believability at times, while the direction and performances are luminous.

Audrey Niffenegger’s 2004 best-seller is the source material for this film, and starting with such a well-written book bodes well for the script itself. Even though the tone with which the time traveling aspect of the story is presented plays a bit too earnest, writer Bruce Joel Rubin knows how to play the beats a sad love story requires. (He wrote Ghost, after all.) Rubin wisely narrows the book’s focus to just the Henry and Clare interaction but also keeps the genetic explanation for Henry’s condition. My only issue is that more attention should have been paid to the details of the timelines and the events surrounding the climax.

This film looks beautiful, not in the least of which due of the extreme attractiveness of the lead actors. Eric Bana, in a big leap from his villainous Star Trek character, keeps Henry strong amid the outside forces he fights against. Rachel McAdams is emotionally precise, bringing the audience right in. These two have the success of the story riding on their chemistry together, and the fact that it works is a big part of why the film works as well as it does. Director Robert Schwentke also accomplishes an aesthetically pleasing combination of camera work and production values for viewers to feast their eyes on.

The Time Traveler’s Wife has an emotional and romantic story that reaches past any disbelief in its central premise thanks to glowing production values and strong performances.

THE VIDEO

The Time Traveler’s Wife is presented in anamorphic widescreen. The saturated and warm colors of the theatrical presentation are excellently preserved in this transfer. Optional subtitles are available in English and Spanish.

THE AUDIO

The English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround option is pretty good, and the only language track available. The wonderful score in the film comes across quite well in this presentation, as does the dialogue and sound effects, which are all clear.

THE EXTRAS

The Time Traveler’s Wife- Love Beyond Words: The single extra feature on this disc is this in-depth making-of documentary. At around 20 minutes long, it is full of good discussions by director Schewentke, writer Rubin, and lead actors McAdams and Bana. Fans might like to know that McAdams loved the book and knew it well before being offered the role. The interview participants also positively confront the necessary changes from a book to a film. Furthermore, actor Ron Livingston particularly addresses this when he talks about his character. This is a quality extra and well worth watching!

FINAL THOUGHTS

In look and performance, The Time Traveler’s Wife is radiant, and this only makes the narrative and its love story even more romantic. The fact that the plot strains believability is only a small quibble in comparison. The only extra feature on this disc is a good one, though zealous fans may want to hold off buying until a Special Edition is released (but this is not for certain). Thanks to the modern classic source novel, even cynical moviegoers may find themselves under the spell of The Time Traveler’s Wife.