Time Traveler 's Wife Has An Emotional Tenderness

Love stories have been popular for several reason, the main one is that in every ones life they are touched by that special person, the one that means everything to them, the one who completes their being. Hollywood has given us love stories that touch even the coldest of hearts. Every now and then they throw in a twist, but seldom is it a sci-fi twist, but in "The Time Traveler's Wife" that is what we get, and it works.

Based on the best-selling book by author Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife tells the story of Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) who has the ability to time travel and the women that he has spent his life watching grow from a child to a mature woman. Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams) has fallen so deeply in love with the man who disappears. Henry has little or no control over when he travels or even where. he travels nude and is forced to find or steal cloths every time he jumps. Henry thinks it may be a genetic disorder that causes him to travel through time, Henry visits Dr. David Kendrick (Stephen Tobolowsky) who at first thinks Henry is nuts. After Henry is able to convince Dr. Kendrick that he can in fact time travel, Dr. Kendrick agrees to try to help Henry find a cure.

The difficulties that time travel imply are compounded once Clare and Henry marry, Clare has difficulty in delivering a child, and Henry thinks it is his fault and takes steps to ensure that he can't impregnate Clare again. The story is complicated but somehow still easy to follow, yet the constant skips back and forth through time are rather mind-boggling. The complex ideas of time travel are interesting and well woven into this love story. But the movie isn't so much about time travel as it is about Henry and Clare's deep and everlasting love for each other under trying circumstances. The movies one outstanding fault is that we never understand the sense of danger in what happens to Henry, we never get the details.

Bana and McAdams make this movie what it is, but the actors who play the leads as children also do a superb job. the cast is well rounded, Henry's Father Richard DeTamble (Arliss Howard) has a hard time dealing with the death of his wife Annette (Michelle Nolden), Clare's best friend Gomez (Ron Livingston) is able to believe Henry can time travel when he sees it for himself but his reaction is worth watching every time. The overall effect of the movie is one of joy to watch.

I give The Time Traveler's Wife a 3 and on my avoidance scale a 0, this movie will delight just about any person who has been through the trials and joys of love. The laughter and sorrow, the uplifting power of love and the shattering power of loss. This movie has it's faults and is not close to perfect but it does work and is a simply treasure to endure alone or with your loved one.

The Time Traveler's wife is rated PG-13 for Thematic Elements, brief Disturbing Images, Nudity and Sexuality

Running time is 1 hr. 48 mins.