The Adjustment Bureau Trailer: Men With Hats

Remember how in Saved by the Bell, Zack Morris could snap his fingers and time would completely freeze, allowing him to regale the audience with a fourth-wall breaking monologue? Well imagine if a shady group -- clothed in the best suits a '50s G-Man could buy -- had that power, but instead of using it to make unheard quips about their buddies, they used it to make sure Matt Damon followed his predestined plan. Say hello to The Adjustment Bureau.

You might remember that Universal had originally slotted this Phillip K. Dick adaptation for a July 30 release, only to push it to the more deadly release date of September 17th. But while there were rumors the change was made because the film was still unfinished -- or a total mess -- the new trailer does a great job of selling its twisty premise. The entire world is controlled by The Adjustment Bureau -- featuring Terence Stamp and John Slattery, wearing his de riguer Mad Men apparel -- and when something that's not supposed to happen actually does, they jump to work.

For Damon's New York senate candidate -- who is somehow riding a city bus? -- that "something" is meeting-cute with Emily Blunt's ballet dancer. Long story short: He's smitten, but according to the plan, he's not supposed to be. Cue running, misdirection and some Hitchcockian like chases.

Comparisons will undoubtedly be made between The Adjustment Bureau and Christopher Nolan's Inception, but while Nolan's film has the more impressive trailer, it doesn't have the charm of Damon. The reaction he gives upon hearing about the explanation of The Adjustment Bureau is priceless. For that alone...

VERDICT: Sold.

[Yahoo! Movies via THR/HeatVision]