Step 1: Sympathize with poor Blake Lively. She has to spend her whole time in Age of Adaline looking young and gorgeous while everyone around her grows old. It’s a solitary life never aging — Adaline stopped in the 1930s — and now in present day, she’s sad. That is, until she meets Ellis, played by the equally gorgeous Michiel Huisman of Game of Thrones fame (he plays Daario Naharis, the Mother of Dragon’s booty call). Now Adaline might have a chance at happiness if she decides to stop running and allow herself to embrace love. Even if, you know, she stays young and he gets older.
Step 2: Admire Lively’s acting chops as she aptly portrays Adaline’s angst and loneliness after finding herself in this strange age limbo. You have to look past Age of Adaline’s severely flawed logic and once you do, you find yourself wrapped up in the romance because of Lively’s convictions and her obvious chemistry with Huisman.
Step 3: But wait, there’s more… Harrison Ford does a nice turn as Ellis’ father, who has a past connection to Adaline. It’s kind of weird, that connection, but Lively and Ford make the most out of their poignant moments together. All in all, Age of Adaline surprises you with its warmth and sweeping romantic notions.
Listen to more of my thoughts on the ScreenPicks podcast, plus, I talk about the soapy WWII melodrama Little Boy.