Based on the novel by Audrey Niffenegger, the film stars Erica Bana (Henry) as the hero of the story, and Rachel McAdams (Clare), the hero's wife.
The plot essentially revolves around Bana's character travelling between places in time, due to a genetic feature, and trying to build and maintain his life around this. Bana has no control over his travelling through time. It is explained as a disorder not entirely unlike epilepsy, where a siezure in the brain triggers a trip through time.
The film focuses on the relationship between librarian Bana and artist McAdams, and how she copes and lives with his "condition".
The relationship begins for McAdams when she is only 6 years old, when she meets a naked Bana in the beautiful, almost magical setting, of a meadow. The film could easily have lost audiences here, but is delivered with care, and good humour.
Some questions are raised and not answered, though. Bana's genetic disorder is not examined in any detail. It is clearly convenient to make the story happen. Bana, who has to travel naked when zipping through time, appears to collect clothes with ease. This isn't explored either, and audiences know to accept "nude time travel" because of examples set by such huge films as Terminator, which create an accessible and acceptable theory of travelling in time.
Details can be neglected, as this film's success is driven by the characters, the conflicts and the emotions engendered by the story. The story is about the impact on the characters, not the technical aspects of the time travelling premise, and, as ever, McAdams brings a special dimension to her character. In a lot of ways this is a gentle film and it retains a sense of magic and wonder throughout, even when the characters appear, at times, to take time travel for granted.
The Time Traveler's Wife could have shown more of Bana's struggle with his condition, of how he coped with the situations he found himself helpless in. The film could have had more of an edge and been much darker. Instead, the film benefits from Schwentke's restraint. What is achieved, is a lovely balance. It is a tear jerker, but there is also an undeniable sense of being inspired by love and of what is possible. It may sound cliche, but is an uplifting story, with Bana and McAdams being completey believable as a couple.
Women will love this film. Men will say they don't (but probably will). It is easy and pleasant to watch. A film for couples to enjoy together.
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