--- title: "The Adjustment Bureau: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-adjustment-bureau/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-adjustment-bureau" critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 19 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Adjustment Bureau (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 62 from 19 reviews: 8 positive, 9 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics come away mildly pleased, and the praise lands in one place: Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. Nearly every review credits their pairing with making the romance believable and carrying the film through its softer stretches. Those who like it most see it as a romantic adventure rather than a science-fiction thriller, and they single out the New York locations, the production design and a brisk first hour that keeps the exposition light. The reservations cluster on the second half. Several reviews say the film over-explains its bureau, answers its questions about free will clumsily and settles for a resolution that is too neat, and a few find George Nolfi’s direction safe and visually unambitious. The spread is wide, from approval to two outright dismissals: Slant calls it formulaic and ludicrous by the end, and the Evening Standard breaks with the majority to find Blunt’s performance grating rather than charming. ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 27 February 2009. The critic praises it as an intelligent, entertaining metaphysical love story/thriller with crackling chemistry between the leads and light exposition that keeps the pace brisk. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/adjustment-bureau-review/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 February 2011. Festival review. The critic sees the film as a sophisticated romantic adventure at heart rather than a sci-fi thriller, praising the charming pairing of Matt Damon and Emily Blunt as its beating heart along with elegant production design, a smart script and enough thrills to hold attention. It could appeal widely if marketed as a well-made romance rather than an action romp. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-adjustment-bureau/5024177.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 February 2011. The critic finds it a genuinely romantic fantasy suspense thriller that succeeds through convincing chemistry between its leads and a light, pragmatic take on the controlling 'System.' It stands out for its heart and New York locations over more cerebral sci-fi peers. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/adjustment-bureau-review-film-161218/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 March 2011. The critic finds the film a light-hearted Philip K Dick adaptation turned glitzy conspiracy thriller with jaunty absurdity. It succeeds as an entertaining speculative comedy on love, free will and fate, anchored by the leads' rapport. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/mar/03/the-adjustment-bureau-review) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Rating Critic’s Pick. 3 March 2011. The critic praises this fast, sure directorial debut for its witty mix of science-fiction metaphysics and old-fashioned romance. She singles out the likable, confidently sexy leads and the balanced tone between sincerity and self-conscious amusement. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/movies/04adjust.html) ## Total Film — Jonathan Crocker Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 24 February 2011. The critic finds it a surprisingly heartfelt romance thanks to the strong chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt and their engaging dialogue, though criticizes the direction as safe and bland. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-adjustment-bureau-review/) ## Time Out — David Jenkins Rating 3/5. 1 March 2011. The critic views it as a sleek but unadventurous directorial debut overshadowed by Inception, with genuine substance in its conspiracy themes but too many plot holes and a lack of visual ambition. The sweet chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt makes the central romance credible. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-adjustment-bureau) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 24 February 2011. The review finds questions of predestination and free will intriguingly posed but clunkily answered, with a fun first hour giving way to a leaden, expository approach. It singles out the excellent cast and playfully surreal chase setpieces for praise. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/the-adjustment-bureau-1117944693/) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Rating C-. 3 March 2011. The review sees the film as a thin, stakes-free supernatural romance that squanders strong lead chemistry and a promising premise by stretching a slim idea too thin. It singles out the direction for making the whole thing feel slight and inconsequential despite the cast's efforts. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-adjustment-bureau-1798167484) ## Slant Magazine — Bill Weber Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 27 February 2011. The critic calls it an odd, formulaic mishmash that starts dull and ends ludicrously, failing to develop its ideas about free will or romance. It singles out the contrived climax and saccharine resolution for undermining any potential depth. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-adjustment-bureau/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic calls it maladjusted and maddening, criticizing the annoying kooky performance by Emily Blunt and finding it neither a suggestive meditation nor entertaining popcorn. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-adjustment-bureau-is-maladjusted-and-maddening-7423829.html) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 March 2011. It is a staggeringly clean, entertaining little movie that headily tackles issues like fate, love, and the nature of reality. The third act is slightly shaky and nearly veers into new age-y sappiness, but charming work by the cast makes it wholly entertaining and emotionally engaging. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-the-adjustment-bureau-is-a-heady-sci-fi-romance-20110303/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 3 March 2011. The film is an entertaining sci-fi romantic thriller that stands out for its heart compared to similar movies like The Matrix or Inception. Nolfi balances humor and suspense effectively while showcasing New York City locations and featuring strong leads with an intelligent script. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/review-matt-damons-adjustment-its-matrix-heart-25221/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 4 March 2011. The critic finds the film saved by the strong chemistry between its leads Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, which helps carry it through weaker moments as a charming supernatural romance. Nolfi is praised for his confident direction but critiqued for over-explaining the bureau's mechanics at the expense of deeper philosophical engagement. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-adjustment-bureau-review/) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 28 February 2011. The film is a tense romantic thriller buoyed by strong chemistry between Damon and Blunt and probing questions about fate, but Nolfi ultimately fudges the deeper ideas, allowing Hollywood conventions to override a convincing resolution. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a306050/the-adjustment-bureau/) ## /Film — Russ Fischer Rating 6.5/10. 4 March 2011. It is an effective, even captivating romantic chase film with a meditative core worth considering. It bursts its own bubble with explanations and offers a too-pat resolution, but the questions posed linger. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/514362/the-adjustment-bureau-movie-review/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 3/5. 28 February 2011. The critic finds it a pleasant but slightly inconsequential fantasy romance filtered through Capra rather than Kafka, with engaging dialogue and gentle chemistry between Damon and Blunt. It lacks Philip K. Dick's cynicism and can feel wan or tentative in its dramatic moments. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-adjustment-bureau-review/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 1 March 2011. There's a lot of good work here with decent performances from Blunt, Damon and Mackie, gorgeous locations and neat production design, but it doesn't quite work. It relies on cliché and gets into a muddle it can't escape from. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-adjustment-bureau-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) ## HeyUGuys — Craig Skinner Rating 2.5/5. 4 March 2011. The critic finds it a fun and engaging thriller but one mostly lacking in substance or complexity. Damon and Blunt have strong chemistry and the supporting cast is excellent, but the film softens the source material's harder edges and has logic issues. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-adjustment-bureau-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-adjustment-bureau.md