The Time Traveller's Wife

Though the title removes any uncertainty the audience might have about whether the central pairing will actually get together or not, The Time Traveller’s Wife is a romance at heart. Of course, it’s occasionally difficult to follow what is gong on with the complex timeline and non-linear narrative (the way we jump back and forth sometimes feels like how Chris Nolan would direct an episode of Lost), but the love story keeps us going throughout.

Ever since he was a young boy, Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) has had a genetic disorder which causes him to involuntarily travel through time to different points in his life. Despite the obvious problems this causes, he pursues a relationship with the love of his life, Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams), and eventually gets married. However, years later with Clare becoming increasing frustrated with the situation, the pair contact a geneticist (Stephen Tobolowsky) and search for answers.

Adapted from Audrey Niffenegger’s source novel by Ghost scribe Bruce Joel Rubin, there are a few similarities to Pat Swayze’s clay model-making slush-fest. Foremost among these is the way that the romantic entanglements are underpinned by a forboding sense of tragedy. There are a few moments of laugh-out-loud humour but it’s a mostly serious affair which tugs firmly on the emotional strings.

As a minor complaint, it would have been better had we got more depth on how the condition affects Henry personally in his day-to-day life. However, aside from the way our hero fades away when he travels (as his threads don’t come with him his clothes falling to the ground after he transports becomes a nice running joke), the time travelling is played straight and always taken seriously. As the journeys are within Henry’s own life and don’t require any sort of equipment (no DeLorian, no flux capacitor) comparisons can also be made with the underrated Ashton Kutcher-starring Butterfly Effect.

Bana is well-suited to his role, but this is hardly surprising given that he’s played the Hulk and is therefore used to a genetic condition that means he finds himself in strange places sans clothing. Playing opposite, McAdams (who looking scarily like Elizabeth Banks) is also impressive and gives real meaning to the important tear-jerk moments.

Rarely gripping but never boring, this tale of love, loss and constant Bana-nudity is worth a watch if you’re in the market for a (sometimes literally) timeless romantic yarn.