By Lisa Johnson Mandell

Get out your tissues and your waterproof mascara: The next great romantic tear jerker has arrived. Seriously, I’m predicting The Age of Adeline is going to go rank among the best-loved romantic movies of all time, right up there with An Affair to Remember, Somewhere in Time and The Notebook.

The premise is a simple one, and you can see it currently on the ABC drama Forever. Adelade (Blake Lively, in the role she’s been waiting for her entire career) plays a young woman whose age has been arrested since she was 29, back in the early part of the 20th century. Not wanting to become a known as a freak, prodded as a specimen, or suffer the intense pain of loved ones growing old and dying before her, she goes about the rest of her life living removed emotionally, if not intellectually, from the world–until one fateful night when a handsome stranger pops into her elevator…

Lively’s performance as an old soul in a lovely young body is flawless. Her looks say young and stunningly beautiful, while her speech and demeanor say very old and wise. No wonder everyone is endeared to her. She has all the wisdom and benefits of age and none of the maladies or drawbacks. Michiel Huisman, a busy Dutch actor who you’ve seen in everything lately, from HBO’s Treme and Game of Thrones to ABC’s Nashville, plays the suitor who causes her to question her relationship strategy, has terrific chemistry with her.

But nothing rivals the chemistry radiated by Harrison Ford. This could be some of his best work ever, and it will absolutely bring you to tears. Kathy Baker and Ellen Burstyn are terrific in supporting roles, but I’m not going to tell you much about them because it’s more fun for you to find out on your own, as you watch the film.

Director Lee Toland Krieger has achieved a rich and warm palette, with fascinating inside looks at rarely seen historic San Francisco sites. Really, there is so much to love about this film. It’s the movie your guy owes you if you cheerfully watched Furious 7 with him.

Rated PG 13

1 Hour 49 Minutes

Get times and tickets at Fandango.com

THE AGE OF ADELINE Review