Parents' Guide to

The Age of Adaline

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Romantic fantasy lacks magical spark; has scary scenes.

Movie PG-13 2015 110 minutes
The Age of Adaline Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 9 parent reviews

becca1976
becca1976 Parent of 14-year-old
September 21, 2015
age 18+

Too much language for my family

I watched this with the impression that it included a couple of curse words. The language isn't as frequent as some, but does in include sh*t, d**n, G*d d**n, and h*ll. As far as the story line goes, the best part of the movie was Harrison Ford. :) It was an interesting plot that evoked different thoughts and feelings, but when the movie was over my husband and I both said out loud, "Weird."
Dan G.
Dan G. Parent
April 24, 2015
age 16+

Sexual activity, and pretty hokey.

The primary content that is objectionable for children in this movie involves the irresponsible sexual activity of the characters. What Common Sense Media describes as "love scenes" are more accurately described as irresponsible sexual activity between unmarried people. True 'love' does not give into irresponsible reproductive behavior, and the movie seems to present this as OK and good. The accident scene is pretty intense and uncomfortable to watch. There is a bit of crude language and profanity. As far as entertainment value, it is OK, if one can put up with the hokiness of the main premise, that of immortality resulting from weather phenomena.
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE AGE OF ADALINE is about the unconventional life of a woman named Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively). As a 29-year-old widowed mother in 1937, Adaline is in a strange car accident that leaves her unable to age (it's not magic, though; the narrator explains some complicated "scientific" reasons for her ageless body). Forever 29, Adaline changes her name, appearance, and residence every decade, even if that means leaving behind someone she loves. Many years later, Adaline, who now goes by the name Jenny, is about to move again when she meets Ellis (Michael Huisman), a wealthy philanthropist who charms her into sticking around in San Francisco. But when Ellis introduces Jenny to his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker), she realizes that his dad is one of her former loves.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9 ):
Kids say (16 ):

Lively is a radiant actress, and she's so lovely in her period gowns that it's easy to forgive some of the movie's many shortcomings because of her on-screen presence. Because despite her charm and The Age of Adaline's interesting premise, the execution is far from magical. First, there's a terribly heavy-handed narrator who tries to make the movie's magical realism elements sound scientific, when they would have been better left unexplained. Plus, there just isn't much of anything happening for most of the movie -- until 70 minutes in, when Jenny finally meets Ellis' parents and discovers that his father is a former lover she abandoned. At least the inimitable Ellen Burstyn is on hand to play Adaline's daughter Flemming, adding much-needed humor to the far-too-serious proceedings.

Besides Flemming, Ford's William is one of the only interesting characters in the story. His relationship with Jenny/Adaline in the present and the past (in the earlier scenes, the character is played by Anthony Ingruber, who even sounds like Ford) is more compelling than the supposedly epic romance between Jenny and Ellis. And that's the main problem with the movie. Ellis and Jenny don't have the kind of swoon-worthy chemistry that the concept requires to make the love story work. And while the costume designer deserves kudos for Adaline's frequent decade-appropriate, often breathtaking outfit changes, the script and plot are underwhelming.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of stories about eternal youth. Do you think The Age of Adaline would have been different had Adaline been less conventionally attractive? What do her looks have to do with the story?

  • Discuss the idea of the motto "years, lovers, glasses of wines -- these are things that shouldn't be counted." How do you feel about that adage?

  • When William ignores his son's wishes and investigates Adaline to find out if she's hiding something, is this an invasion of privacy or is he doing the right thing? Would you go out of your way to investigate something or someone, even if this means crossing boundaries?

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