What would you do if you could travel through time? What would you change? If you really think about these questions, there are probably some fairly loaded answers. The object of time, if there is such a thing, and the vivid memories that come to pass within it are things we take an interest in – even more so when we’re older. But to take things for granted? We do that every single day without realising it, regardless of age. Ideas of trusting our instinct and the little voices in our heads are taken to an extreme in The Time Traveler’s Wife, where those attributes are formed in the shape of a human being just like all of us. And he too has to live with the pain that comes with life’s joy.

Henry (Eric Bana) can travel through time, past and present – but his catch is that it occurs uncontrollably. And he doesn’t take any clothes with him. Not knowing when, where or for how long you travel would seriously mess up your social life. Heck, your life in general. So when he meets an excited Claire (Rachel McAdams), who knows exactly who he is, Henry’s world starts spinning. This is the effect his travelling has, creating his own destiny through versions of himself. But at the same time Henry can’t change the past, so travelling to tragic events in his life is pointless for the purpose of change. Based on Audrey Niffenegger’s novel, this doesn’t come across as confusing on-screen even for the uninitiated; it’s easy to grasp but it still requires your full attention. This is a romantic drama that keeps you on the ball, and as Henry and Claire move through their developing relationship it becomes less about the ability itself but more about the consequence of where Henry goes and his actions. Scenes between Henry and a young Claire (Brooklynn Proulx) are of particular interest as we come to see how their friendship initially blossomed, and it manages to come across as perfectly genuine within a not-so-innocent world.

The Time Traveler’s Wife will bring on the waterworks for most ladies consistently, but that’s not to say there aren’t plenty of wisecracks. Their wish to have a child brings some of the film’s strongest intensity from Bana and McAdams but also the funniest twists of the film. And there are plenty of those. Because of the flexibility of Henry’s travel the story moves at a slow pace over a long stretch of time, but there’s such a growth of all the main characters. Their thoughts on Henry’s travelling are revealed to have a profound impact on him: from friends Charisse (Jane McLean) and Gomez (Ron Livingston) not initially understanding, to his father Richard (Arliss Howard) discouraging him and his turn to alcoholism. But like the best of tales, there are some things Henry doesn’t know even with his ability. His cause of death is one of those, and proves his identity as normal as anyone else. He’s an acceptant man because he’s seen it all. Eric Bana is versatile as Henry, with his varying ages coming strongly across; McAdams delivers as Claire but is also memorable for her shrinking frame. They have a good chemistry on-screen with stand-out performances during both lighter and darker moments, and the film is handled well by Flightplan director Robert Schwentke between the past/future and the present with a well-fitting score and good pace.

Verdict:

A great leading couple and an interesting concept make The Time Traveler’s Wife a romance worth remembering for its normality.

[Rating: 4/5]

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