The Age of Adaline starring Blake Lively, Ellen Burstyn, and Harrison Ford.

While many of us strive to stop the aging process (particularly after the age of 29), the repercussions of succeeding are just something no one thinks about. The Age of Adaline, shows audiences what it would be like, and the precautions one would have to take, if that wrinkle-reducing face cream actually started working. Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) was born in 1908 and after a freak accident at the age of 29, she simply stopped aging. A widow and mother of a young girl, Adaline tries to live a normal life but is soon faced with some unique challenges on account of her remaining 29. So she runs, and continues running – which brings us to the year 2014.

The main story takes place in the present, so after doing some math one can deduce that she is well over 100 years young when she meets handsome Ellis and is forced to re-evaluate how she had planned to live out her seemingly endless days. Being unable to tell anyone about her condition, Adaline had vowed to move and change identities every decade in order to avoid suspicion – meeting Ellis makes her think twice. She had only fallen in love once before, and the movie leaves enough breadcrumbs here and there to help the audience piece together her whole story.

While not ideal, the key events and backstory are relayed to the audience through a narrator whose sole purpose is to explain the science behind Adaline’s condition. This was likely done to dismiss the questions that would inevitably arise in one’s mind and ultimately take away from the movie. It proves a little clumsy and contrived, but it succeeds in the end. Instead of questioning how the heck this is all possible, you are able lose yourself in the movie and the romance relatively guilt-free. While it sometimes seems like it could have been adapted from a Nicholas Sparks book, thankfully the story comes across as more genuine and the acting is significantly better than what is typically seen in those movies (The Notebook is the only exception).

The charming Ellis is played by Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones, Nashville, Wild) and he immediately wins the hearts of female audience members as he pursues Adaline and refuses to take “No” for an answer. The smaller roles, but the ones that ultimately give The Age of Adaline some clout, are played by Ellen Burstyn and Harrison Ford. Sometimes it can be hard to appreciate Ford’s acting abilities, but he is responsible for some of the more emotional scenes in this movie and his commanding screen presence is undeniable. This type of performance hasn’t been seen from him in quite some time so it is really refreshing to watch.

We’re likely all guilty of thinking that Blake Lively (Gossip Girl, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants) could never hold her own as the female lead on the big screen, let alone alongside the likes of Ellen Burstyn and Harrison Ford. Well, we were wrong. Her performance is subtle but there is nothing to suggest that she doesn’t belong there; and there are a couple scenes in particular that prove she is not going anywhere either.

It’s a beautifully shot and moderately sappy love story with a unique twist that will be enjoyed by most women and tolerated by some men. It’s a good mother-daughter movie and perfectly acceptable for a pre-teen girl’s night. You would never know it was written for the screen by two unknown middle-aged men.

The Age of Adaline is now playing in theatres.

As published on Examiner.com