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The director George Nolfi had a little treasure in his hands, a short novel by one of the most influential science fiction authors - Philip K. Dick - and the subject that most fascinated the mankind since had looked at the sky: free will. And among all the changes he made to the original story, there was a brilliant one: David, the main character, is destined to become the President of the United States. Nothing else could be more interesting if related with free will, and nothing could have more ways to go through and many aspects to analyze. Nolfi definitely threw all away. What David thinks once he meets the truth is not if he really wants to be the President of a country such as the United States, knowing perfectly he's just a pawn of the real and highest President. He makes a giant fuss to find a girl that kissed him exactly three minutes after they first met. Maybe I'm exaggerated and I knew right from the start this was going to be a love story, but seeing David not caring at all for his future as politician and human being really had sadden me. It could be an extraordinary film about life and also about love, and what remains is a bitter aftertaste you feel for missed chances.
Even their love story is not convincing: not just because I found feeble the chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, but just because they were meant to be together in previous plans, so their rebellion seems to be not to the whole system but just the new plan. From this statement a contradiction comes out: if it's the proof that free will doesn't exist and real love, free from destiny, doesn't exist as well, that ending particularly politically correct doesn't make any sense. It seems like the director had the necessity to end the movie quickly and with a lovely happy end, ruining the last part - when David goes through doors and finally escapes with Elise - that is spectacular and uses greatly space and cinematography.
A little final note is about Emily Blunt: it was like she wasn't able to move me, even if her character was interesting for her effect on David's emotions. Those puppy faces she made didn't help at all. And though she was quite good in dancing scenes, especially with other dancers, she hasn't been good in building her character movements in "everyday's life". An example is her way to walk: I didn't see the typical way to walk that every dancer in the world has. This is the first movie of her I've ever seen, and I confess she disappointed me a lot. Especially because people speak highly of her and I expected more from her performance.
