The Age of Adaline

With all the films out there now and in the recent past, it's refreshing to see something that not only is based in fiction, but is based in pure fantasy. We really don't see enough of these where one's imagination can go places that is, in so many ways, a direct contrast of our very lives which can be routine, frustrating with a lot of reality. It's no wonder why these films typically do well in the multiplex, and Hollywood used to show them all the time. Well, just maybe "The Age of Adaline" can spawn more of these gems our way in the not too distant future.

After surviving a potentially fatal car accident in 1935 and miraculously remaining 29 years old for almost eight decades, Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has lived a solitary existence, never allowing herself to get close to anyone who might reveal her secret, and that if she did become close to anyone, they would surely die way before her. But a chance encounter with charismatic philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reignites her passion for life and romance. When a weekend with his parents, William and Kathy (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker) threatens to uncover the truth, Adaline makes a decision that will change her life forever.

Others to round out the cast are Ellen Burstyn as Flemming, Adaline's daughter, Amanda Crew as Kikki, Ellis' sister, Lynda Boyd as Regan, Hugh Ross as Narrator, Richard Harmon as Tony, Hiro Kanagawa as Kenneth and Anjali Jay as Cora.

This was passionately and compassionately directed by Lee Toland Krieger ("December Ends" '06, "The Vicious Kind" '09, "Celeste & Jesse Forever" '12) plus different shorts. It was passionate because its character of Adaline had this purpose and drive to protect her and her family from what she figured would be treating them like a freak show by society, and it was compassionate, because Adaline was just that kind of individual, and although Krieger was able to extract these attributes from Lively, Lively is a honed actor in her own rights. Krieger has not worked on 'A' list productions, perhaps, but after this film, I suspect we'll see more of his work. It was chronologically and orderly executed in its writing by J. Mills Goodloe and Salvador Paskowitz based on a story by the same two guys. Other than losing a little tracking between time elements, but certainly not enough to cause the audience to lose track, this script was precise and coherent in every other way. Certainly the way the narrator describes what happens to Adaline during the crash almost gives the appearance as what happened to Adaline could have, in fact, happened, but this is great storytelling at its best.

For all of you who are pure fantasy junkies, this is the film for you, but even if fact based films, or even documentaries are more of your thing, the story here is endearing speaking to the heart about love, acceptance, redemption and second chances, and isn't this something we all want or could certainly use?

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                  Rated: PG-13                                   114mins.