The ageless appeal to 'The Age of Adaline'

Rating: ★★★★☆

“The Age of Adaline,” is the story of a young woman (Blake Lively) that after a car accident, realizes that she is no longer aging. At first, she just appears youthful, but eventually she goes on the run to keep her secret. The only one that really knows Adaline’s secret is her daughter (Ellen Burstyn) and Adaline misses most of her daughter’s life adult life while on the run. The film opens as Adaline is just about to reinvent herself again, and in a moment of weakness she lets a wealthy philanthropist (Michiel Huisman) into her private life more than she had in a long time. By falling in love, Adaline finds herself in trouble again, or is she?

“The Age of Adaline” was written by J. Mills Goodloe (“The Best of Me”) and Salvador Paskowitz (“Nic & Tristen Go Mega Dega”) and directed by Lee Toland Kreiger (“Celeste and Jesse Forever”) and is a film that will remind many classic film lovers of films from the 1940’s and 1950’s.

Many critics have complained that “The Age of Adaline” is too old-fashioned. But in a day when movies use bad language and nudity much too often, it is refreshing to see a story that is compelling and entertaining without risqué modern day contributions.

Blake Lively embodies the character of Adaline and her delivery of the dialogue is perfect to the mood of the film. Living in a youth obsessed culture, “The Age of Adaline,” explores a serious side of aging – its trappings and its value.

The film is a complete package that adds to the wonderfully sedate and mature dialogue. The art departments carefully added in timeless amenities that make Adaline’s world come to life.

All in all, “The Age of Adaline” is time well spent at the movies and a willing walk through time to when movies explored our emotions without overwhelming our senses.

“The Age of Adaline” is rated PG-13 for a suggestive comment and has a run time of one hour and 52 minutes.