The Time Traveler’s Wife

PG-13 for thematic elements, brief disturbing images, nudity and sexuality

reviewed by Christopher Lyon

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The Story

Based on a best-selling book by Audrey Niffennegger, the film describes the involuntary time-travel experiences of Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) and the impact of his jumping and back and forth through time on his life and marriage with Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams).

Since he was six, Henry has been a victim of “chrono-displacement disorder,” disappearing without warning from his own “normal” timeline to other times and places—often arriving in moments or locations with some connection to the people in his life—and then eventually vanishing just as unexpectedly back to his own right place in time. And he always shows up naked, forcing him to quickly scramble to find clothes.

One day he meets Clare, who already knows all about him because he’s been “visiting” her from his future for years. They fall in love, marry, and attempt to build something of a normal life together. But that’s tough to do when your husband can vanish and return at any moment without warning.

Content Issues

Henry and Clare engage in premarital sex and live together before being married. In a twist, Clare “cheats” on Henry with a younger version of himself. There’s a good bit of harsh language, one word in particular that’s used every time Henry disappears. God’s name is taken in vain freely, and there are several scenes involving alcohol abuse. Combine all this with repeated shots of Bana’s bum, and you get the film’s PG-13 rating.

Worldview Talking Points

For a high-concept film with a delayed opening and mediocre reviews, “The Time Traveler’s Wife” is doing okay at the box office—meaning more students might eventually want to see it. Those who have read Niffennegger’s imaginative, sad book or who are fans of Rachel McAdams’ other romantic films (like “The Notebook”) may be especially drawn in.

This story even more than most leaves lots of room to chew on big worldview ideas after taking it in. We hope a few of the questions below will help you to explore a few of those issues with your student in a productive way.

• What are some of your favorite time-travel movies, books, or TV shows?
• How was the premise of Henry’s time traveling different from other fictional time travel stories?
• Did you think the science fiction concept fit into a story about romance, love, and marriage? Why or why not?
• If you could go back in time somehow, is there anything you’d want to try to change? Do you think you’d rather go back in time or into the future—or would you rather just stay put in your own time?
• As much as he wanted to, Henry didn’t seem to be able to intentionally change anything about the future. Why do you think that is?
• The Bible tells us that our times are in God’s hands, that He is at work through the events of time to accomplish His plans for the universe. Do you think God’s control over time and the future is a comforting idea, or does it make you feel kind of trapped and powerless?
• Even though God is in control of all things, He tells us to “make the most of every opportunity” and to be wise in how we use our time. It seems that God somehow uses our choices—our words and actions—as part of His perfect plan for time and the universe. Does that idea make you feel like it really matters what choices you make?
• Solomon wrote that God has “set eternity in our hearts.” Eternity means something that is “out of time.” What do you think it means that God has placed that in our hearts?
• Clare becomes resentful toward Henry for his time-traveling condition even though he can’t control it. Do you think that’s fair? How else could she have responded?
• In spite of their hard circumstances, Clare and Henry decide to stay together and keep trying to make their marriage work. Why do you think they didn’t split up?
• Every marriage is hard in some way. It always takes work to keep that relationship working, and there are always obstacles to make it harder. Why do you think God takes marriage so seriously? Why do you think He says that He “hates divorce” in the Bible? What kinds of things could you be doing now to get ready to be part of a marriage that lasts?
• Do you think it would be easier to stick with a relationship if you “knew” you’d still be together in the future? How does that idea fit into sticking with your relationship with God (since Christians will spend forever with Him)?
• Were you surprised at the way the movie ended? If you didn’t like the ending, how would you have liked the story to wrap up?

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