In a world where Olay face serums and plastic surgery rule the anti-aging market, Adaline Bowman seems to defy the effects of time completely in the new film, “ The Age of Adaline.”

Not a wrinkle or gray hair shows up for more than 60 years, drastically changing the lives Adaline (Blake Lively) and her loved ones forever. The success of Lee Toland Krieger’s film is the result of a combination of its stellar cast and exceptional cinematography. 

In a world where Olay face serums and plastic surgery rule the anti-aging market, Adaline seems to defy the effects of time completely in the new film.

The movie centers around Adaline, a woman who magically remains at the crisp age of 29 after a freak car accident.  

Adaline finds she must change her identity every decade in order to avoid suspicion concerning her age, causing much heartbreak along the way.

“The Age of Adaline’s” main purpose as a film was to showcase Lively as a serious actress, despite her less dimensional roles played on-screen such as in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and the TV series, “Gossip Girl.” 

Adaline certainly serves Lively as a better vessel to showcase her talent, as her role as Serena in the “Gossip Girl” series simply wasn’t cutting it anymore for the adult actress. 

The one-dimensional characters she had been playing up until this point have not done her career justice, and her performance as Adaline proves that she has grown out of tween movies such “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” resulting in a refreshing transformation. 

Lively proves to have a sort of charming aloofness when it comes to her acting, similar to that of Angelina Jolie. This style of acting, often somewhat limiting in range, screams “look how little I have to try in order to be sensational,”  which is a break from the constant over-dramatic acting we often see on the big screen today.

While struggling with having to change her identity once again, Adaline finds herself in love with a man named Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) a role that was so simple and commonly seen in movies that nearly anyone could have played it. 

It was as if the casting director picked up a “male love interest” catalogue and chose the most generic ruggedly handsome man they could find, ultimately causing for less investment in the romance between Adaline and Ellis. 

The romance that is truly one to cheer for is the long lost romance between Adaline and William Jones (Harrison Ford) a relationship that was sparked in the 60s but regrettably abandoned by the ever-changing identity of Adaline. 

Although William succumbs to the typical forces of age, there is undoubtedly a familiar chemistry between the two after 40 years, a chemistry that will make an audience member beg for a redo of their tragic past. 

Ford effectively proves to the audience that he’s still got it even at his age, as his talent for convincing and emotional acting is a rare one indeed. 

Adaline in the film also has a daughter, Flemming (Ellen Burstyn) that was born in the 1930s, a woman who looks like she has almost defied age herself. Burstyn acts the part of Flemming rather playfully, being the typical spunky daughter that ignores her younger mother’s warning against over-salting her food, making for an interesting and relatable relationship to watch.

Regardless of the slightly above average acting, the cinematography is what truly stole the show, as it was stunningly executed. 

With dramatic facial close-ups and vivid vintage flashbacks, seeing this movie takes the viewer on a trip through the eras. 

This made the film especially relatable and riveting for the older audience, while still magical for those who are younger.

“The Age of Adaline” may tackle the immortality theme that we are all familiar with, but does it in a way that is not entirely cliché. Lively and most of the cast enhance the storyline and create a film that is truly a great work of art.