Aug 15 2009 04:31 PM ET

'Time Traveler's Wife': Welcome back, Rachel McAdams?

Categories: About Last Night, Movies

We won’t have a complete box office report until tomorrow, but The Time Traveler’s Wife made a tidy $7.7 million yesterday, and if predictions are to be believed, the movie will keep holding its own just fine at the cineplex this weekend, serving as a perfect slice of counter programming against this week’s sci-fi sensation, District 9. The big-screen adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger’s best-selling novel is shaping up to be Rachel McAdams’ first hit since 2005′s The Family Stone, which is a decent feat, considering the reviews have ranged from lukewarm enjoyment to outright befuddlement. I’m with the critics on this one. Having read Niffenegger’s book, I went into the movie hoping to experience some real, hot-and-bothered romantic swooning. We’re talking about McAdams and Eric Bana here, actors with the potential to push the smokin’ quotient off the charts! But the movie just sort of bumps along without the kind of passionate heat a story like this deserves. Oh well. Maybe if The Notebook director Nick Cassavetes had helmed this leaky, listing ship instead of Robert Schwentke (Flightplan), Time Traveler’s Wife might have ended up with more of a beating heart. Or at least spared us that tonally bizarro wedding scene in which the newlyweds dance to Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” Sure, it’s the ultimate ode to doomed love, but come on…a bit lugubrious for a wedding, no?

But I digress. Assuming Time Traveler’s Wife can reestablish McAdams as a Hollywood It Girl (a crown she all but refused when it was foisted upon her four years ago), what should she do next? She’s got two big studio movies on the horizon — December’s Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr. and next year’s Morning Glory with Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton. The latter is a comedy, and personally, I’m looking forward to seeing McAdams flash that dazzling smile in an upbeat yuck fest again. And how rad would it be if she teamed up with Paul Rudd? As Annie Barrett posited yesterday and many of you agreed, McAdams is the female Paul Rudd, an actor beloved by pretty much everyone, so they might as well join forces!

What do you think? What should McAdams’s next career move be? And what should be her first — because of course there will be many, duh! — collaboration with Rudd?

Comments (39 total) Add your comment
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  • Christina

    I was looking at Rachel McAdams IMDB page and was surprised that her work in the past 4 years has been light to say the least. She was in the spotlight in 2004-2005, then just dropped off. I’m a fan of her work, and hope that she keeps up a decent pace in visible movies. Her strengths are definitely romance and comedy. I don’t see her as a dramatic actress. She should keep going in that direction.

  • Donnie

    Rachel McAdams is one of the best diverse actress out there. I think she’s very smart about her career. She does only what she wants to do, not what will make the most at the box office. I would like to see her do something she hasn’t done like a action, superhero type movie! I think she’d be great for it! Rachel Mcadams is probably my favorite actress and is one of the most beautiful people in the world.

  • theo

    Rachel McAdams is a doll. I’m glad to see she’s back. =]

  • Jacquelyn

    I cant help but keep repeating “SHEEEEE’S BAAAAAACK!!!!” and dancing around my living room. This woman found her true passion and she has been working almost flawlessly! No matter what the reviews were of The Time Traveler’s Wife, they can not say that Rachel didnt do a wonderful job with what she was given. She plays her parts spot on! I really hope she sticks around but keeps making the smart choices that she has in the past!

  • chris

    Rachel McAdams = The “it” girl she always should have been! She is amazing!

  • SKZ

    State of Play? Fairly recent and successful film that she was in and was great in it.

  • Elle

    Love, love, love her! Like others have said, I think she is a great and intelligent actress. She’s waits for good, interesting projects to come to her and has the most diverse resume of films of all young actresses right now.

  • Davey

    I love McAdams but this film works because of the chemistry of McAdams and Bana. Without Bana, this film would truly be a dud.

  • Sammy

    You should put her on the cover, EW! I’m sick of seeing Twilight on the cover. Give us a real movie star.

  • Carly

    Love Rachael McAdams, I think shes a fantastic actress, and she is indeed pure genius in this film. I cannot imagine anyone else playing Clare nor anyone else playing Henry. Its an amazing film, superbly directed and acted, they did a great job. The book is amazing Audrey Niffenegger is one hell of an author!

    • evie

      I totally agree with you Carly, Eric and Rachel acted their parts beautifully!!

  • Matt

    OK, first, no – not everyone loves Paul Rudd.
    And second, it’s lucky for Rachel that this movie seems to be doing OK, because OF COURSE it’s a dud – Eric Bana’s in it! What non-ensemble films has he been successful in?? Hulk, Troy, Lucky You, The Other Boleyn Girl. He’s poison.

  • ian

    the girl has many flops now….she’s no IT girl
    I cant stand her
    the real IT girl is Amy Adams

  • elle

    she’s so boring

  • ninjas

    McAdams is no diverse actress. Her acting and is forgettable and her voice is so try hard sweet. She looks freaky and many guys say she looks like a clown and her forehead is so huge. She will just be typecast in romantic roles.
    She will luck out on Sherlock Holmes because of the great Downey Jr. and while the movie will have some legs at the B.O. I have a feeling it will not rain on the critics.

    • Alex

      Freaky? Clown? You guys need to have your man card revoked and need to get out of your parent’s basement because you’ll never get a gorgeous girl like Rachel with your dorky faces. Get a life, retard.

  • alias

    Rachel McAdams is completely eclipsed by Ellen Page. Quite frankly she needs to retire.Her rotating boyfriends are more famous than her movie performances.

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