THE AGE OF ADALINE : Sunday 19th April 2015.

On a cold Wintry Sunday evening in Adelaide I decided to see 'THE AGE OF ADALINE' having seen the shorts for it a couple of weeks ago and thought that this romantic epic fantasy story spanning many decades looked interesting. And sure enough, I wasn't disappointed! Not being one for weepy, sappy, saccharine romantic movies myself, I was pleasantly surprised because this film is not that, and it comes with fantasy elements, spans one hundred years or so, is an engaging story, well cast, and it poses a few questions that you may ponder over one evening with friends.

Directed by Lee Toland Krieger, the film opens with the young girl Adaline (Blake Lively) shortly after the turn of the 20th Century growing up in the burgeoning American economy. She meets a handsome young guy, marries, has a daughter and then one evening driving home in a storm through winding country roads an unlikely snow storm in California's Sanoma County causes her to veer off the road, through a crash barrier and into the river below. Her life in an instant changes forever!

With the car upturned, water rushing in, snow falling and the temperature dropping Adaline is knocked unconscious and slips beneath the icy water, her life ebbing away. Her almost lifeless body battles to stay alive as her heartbeat drops dramatically and her vital organs begin to shut down. A freak lightning strike on the car after two or so minutes sends a huge electric current through the car and through Adaline jolting her back to life, warming her body instantly and giving her back the strength to crawl from the wreckage onto the riverbank. From this accident although she survives, she from this point forward never age beyond the 29 years she was at the time of this freak accident.

The voiceover talks us through the 'science' of this extraordinary life altering event and the consequences this has had upon Adaline's life through the decades that follow. As we fast forward now to the early 21st Century we see Adaline going about her daily routine in her San Francisco apartment, caring for her dog, going to work and leading almost a 'normal' life - still not a day over 29 even though she is in reality now 100+. Aside from her daughter no one else knows her 'secret' and Adaline has spent the last eighty or so years changing her identity (she now goes by the name of Jenny), never establishing any roots, and not getting involved with anyone who may expose her secret - she even shies away from photo's and giving out her address in case someone should find out more about her unique history and therefore expose her as a 'curiosity', or a 'novelty' or someone who should be closely researched.

Things change however, when Ellis Jones (Michael Huisman) comes into her life. He is a wealthy philanthropist who like Jenny shares a love for the arts, literature, history and he falls hopelessly for her. She reciprocates his feelings but is frightened about getting too close. It is her daughter though, Flemming (Ellen Burstyn) who is now old enough to be Jenny's Grandmother who urges her to find true happiness for once in her life, and to finally stop running. Cautiously and somewhat reluctantly Jenny heeds the advice of her daughter.

As the relationship grows Ellis announces that he needs to travel home for the weekend for his parents 40th wedding anniversary celebrations and he would like Jenny to join him - to which she accepts. Upon meeting Dad, William Jones (Harrison Ford) and Mum Connie (Kathy Baker), William instantly recognises Jenny as Adaline and is knocked for a home run, because 40 years ago he had intended to propose. They were 'very close' having met in England and then returned home to the US together after a whirlwind romance. She broke it off and left him standing never to be seen again, until now. Jenny says that Adaline was her mother which is why the resemblance is so striking, but reveals to a shocked and surprised William that her mother died six years ago.

This appeases William, for now, and whilst almost speechless by this turn of events is accepting of the smoke & mirrors story fabricated by Jenny. As the weekend progresses however, we learn more of the relationship through flash back and the means by which William can reveal Jenny's true identity as his first love Adaline. She bolts when the truth and Ellis' love become too much to bear and disappearing into the night behind the wheel of his car she is involved once again in a near fatal car accident that sends her again into hypothermia and has her battling for her life as it gradually slips away in her unconscious state. Brought back from the brink by the paramedics and a defibrillator, she is saved again as she was almost eight decades ago.

Waking in the hospital with Ellis looking on, she reveals her 'secret' as daughter Flemming arrives, who at first introduces herself as Jenny's Grandmother. By now though Ellis is in the picture, and from here on it's all smiles, sunshine and rainbows! In the final frames there is one more little twist that will bring a smile as true love always finds a way!

This is a US$25M feel good, heart warming and emotional story of love overcoming adversity amidst the most obscure fantastical circumstances. The cast are strong and believable as the central couple keep it grounded and real. The only adverse feedback for me surrounds the voice over commentary which I felt a little jarring at times and perhaps too much, but this is a minor detail only. Get out there with a loved one, or for a girls night out, as this is better than you might think and certainly a cut above your usual romantic fare.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 16th April 2015.

With just a few days of the Easter school holidays now left it seems we have this week the calm before the storm in terms of new movie releases to tempt us out to a local theatre. With some big budget blockbuster action fare coming our way in the next couple of months, this weeks offerings are relatively small fry compared to those, but nonetheless will find an audience for what they offer.

And what do they offer I hear you groan? First up we have an action thriller starring a Hollywood A-lister and a bunch of others who easily fall into that same category that should deliver in spades, but, is familiar territory trodden by others before! Then we have a romantic fantasy spanning decades with a woman harbouring an ageless secret that is in danger of being found out, but what will the consequences be on her and those around her; and finally a comedic sequel to a 'Segway' riding downbeat Security Cop who clearly thinks he is something he ain't, and is never likely to be, and so I wonder why are we even talking about this, but, there's sure to be a laugh in there somewhere!

When you have checked out this weeks latest cinematic offerings, or any of those still out on general release, share you views and opinions with your like minded friends in filmdom by leaving a Comment below this or any other Post. Enjoy your movie choice!

THE GUNMAN (Rated MA15+) - as a starting point this actioner is Directed by Frenchman Pierre Morel who was responsible for launching Liam Neeson's 'Taken' franchise, and is based on the 1981 novel 'The Prone Gunman' by Jean-Patrick Manchatte. Made for US$40M this action thriller sees Jim Terrier (Sean Penn) as an ex-soldier who eight years ago as part of a mercenary assassination team took out a Diplomatic Minister in The Congo, but as a result had to go into hiding to protect not only himself, but his team too for fear of retaliation. With tensions already running high in The Congo the kill added more fuel to an already uneasy fire.

Fast forward to the present day and Terrier has a new life and is working for an NGO when he returns to The Congo clearly expecting the dust to have long settled. Well, how wrong can a man be? When he is caught in the cross-fire of a hit squad there are deaths and mayhem aplenty as the net closes in around him, and those around him! Terrier goes back into hiding again all the while seeking to identify who has come out of the woodwork to move him on to the life hereafter, and why after all this time. The support cast here is strong enough to add plenty of weight to this story, including Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, and Mark Rylance, coupled with an accomplished action Director and the set pieces that action aficionados are likely to applaud.

THE AGE OF ADALINE (Rated M) - this is a romantic fantasy film spanning eight decades that is Directed by Lee Toland Krieger who got the gig after a number of other helmsmen were first associated with this outing before him. Made for US$25M this tells the story of 29 year old Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) who in the first half of the 20th century is involved in a car accident, and whilst she survives she I rendered ageless, and for all time moving forward she will forever be 29. Eight decades have past since that accident and Adaline has been able to maintain her secret by living a lonely life, not getting too involved with anyone, and keeping her distance from those who wanted to get close. One day a chance encounter with philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michael Huisman) rekindles her love of life, romance and adventure until a weekend with his parents threatens to reveal her story and the truth behind her ageless secret, that could in turn have far reaching repercussions for her forever. Also starring Harrison Ford as William Jones, Kathy Baker as Connie Jones, and Ellen Burstyn. This could be 'Benjamin Button' in reverse . . . perhaps!

PAUL BLART : MALL COP 2 (Rated PG) - the first film, Directed by Steve Carr, was released in early 2009 off the back of a US$26M production budget and brought home US$183M, so I guess it was inevitable that a sequel would come our way sooner rather than later. This time in the Director's chair we have Andy Fickman and a budget of US$38M, and like last time Adam Sandler gets a Producer credit as does the hero of the piece Kevin James who also co-wrote. So once again our Mall Cop on patrol riding his 'Segway' in and out of shopping precincts upholding justice, righting wrongs and apprehending miscreants is Paul Blart (Kevin James) who has earned a break and skips off to LA for some R&R with his teenage daughter before she heads off to College. Combining business with pleasure Blart Snr. and Blart Jnr. are there to holiday while Blart Snr. also attends a Security Expo. Stumbling across a heist on the hotel in which Blart & Blart are staying, it's the Segway riding Security enforcement officer to the rescue to foil them pesky good for nothing crooks and ensure justice, the law and the American way are upheld - no doubt with rip roaring gut busting side splitting hilarious consequences . . . maybe!

Three movies this week then giving us a mix of thrills, spills, action, romance, fantasy and comedy that won't be for everyone, but are sure to find a viewer or two willing to invest a hard earner dollar or twenty for two hours of so of big screen entertainment. If one such individual is you, then share your thoughts with us here at Odeon Online and reach out to our evert growing worldwide following.

Movies - see something this week!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-