Time travel can be tricky. The idea has been used so many times that it has almost turned into a cliché. While it can bring about interesting cinematic moments, offering some creative, postmodern juxtapositions, it is hard to navigate that overused capsule of storytelling to new height.
This is a movie I’d anticipated. Not that I’m a fan of Richard Curtis, but I do find a couple of his works delightful. He is the prolific writer/director/producer of many popular romantic comedies. His works in any of the above-mentioned capacities include Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Notting Hill (1999), Bridget Jones’s Diary and its sequel (2001, 2004), Love Actually (2003), The Girl in the Café (2005), and the not so romantic comedies of Mr. Bean (1992-2007), among many other titles. About Time is his third movie as director.
While I’m indifferent to the travel back in time story idea, I do have fond memories of a few movies which now have found a place in my mental playlist, tagged time travel. They include Somewhere In Time (1980), Kate and Leopold (2001), and the more recent, Midnight In Paris (2011). As for About Time, despite my high anticipation, I’m afraid it will slip away in no time.
The year Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) turns 21, his Dad (Bill Nighy) tells him a secret: all the men in his family have the power to travel back in time. Fine. What you will use this extraordinary power for is totally up to you. Dandy. Tim knows exactly what to do with it: find a girl to love. Not a hard decision, for Tim tends to be a novice in relationships and unsure of himself. He soon sets his eyes on Mary (Rachel McAdams).
Tim has the time of his life trying out his new-found power. He uses it to redo the mistakes he has made, erase the speech bubbles he has messed up, reappear as more savvy than he really is. To his advantage, he hits on Mary and repeats his romancing act with her multiple times, she oblivious of being played. This being the brunt of a joke is highly problematic. That it is a comical episode does not mask the fact that this is an obvious abuse of superpower.
But of course, the film is made up of many more episodes. We see Tim and Mary get married and have children of their own. There are accidents and mishaps, and Tim soon finds out that even though he can go back in time, he cannot avoid consequences of actions, his and others. The last part of the movie seems a shift from earlier segments in delivering lines that get a bit too sentimental and preachy, utterances of platitudes.
Director Curtis has a fine cast in his hands. However, maybe because of the romcom genre, they give the impression of an overacting bunch. If Domhnall Gleeson does not ring a bell you might want to travel back to Harry Potter movies, True Grit, and last year’s Anna Karenina where he played Levin in the adaptation of Tolstoy’s classic. I definitely enjoyed his Levin role more. Rachel McAdams, interestingly, has been in several time travel movies, including Midnight in Paris. Again, her act there is more convincing. Well, to quote Mr. Darcy, the epitome of aloof coolness, they ‘smile too much.’
So that’s when I doubly appreciate Bill Nighy. You don’t have to smile in order to be funny. Actually, you should refrain from doing just that. He is the veteran here and I feel he saves the show. Nighy’s performance turns sentimental episodes into moving moments, especially with the father-son relationship.
A lightweight, sugar-coated romcom, definitely an item on the dessert menu, that is, if you don’t much care for the main dish.
~ ~ 1/2 Ripples
***
Other related reviews on Ripple Effects:
The Girl In The Café (2005): The Hunger for Connection
True Grit: A Cool Summer Read and Movie
***
Sounds a bit derivative of “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray!
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linnetmoss,
Umm… I’ve have to see that again.
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Totally agree with you Arti. A fun movie to watch – mainly because of the actors, and Bill Nighy in particular – but it didn’t quite hang together and did become a bit too sentimental at the end. It seemed to be about to end a few times and then there was more! It lacked a bit of bite – could, perhaps have laughed at itself a little more. I liked quite a bit of the soundtrack though.
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WG,
You’re right about it trying to end several times. Structurally, I think it needs some tighter editing. Also, I feel Curtis can give Bill Nighy a bit more screen time. He’s an excellent and much needed balance. And, thanks for filling in your thoughts about the soundtrack.
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Yep, tight editing, and yep, more Bill. Always more Bill!
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I saw About Time a few weeks ago, I would give it a 6 out of 10. I love surprises and usually don’t read the synopsis before I go to the theatre. Not another ‘travel back in time’ story……not again!
Yes, a light hearted film but it’s not a must see.
Great post Arti, thanks for sharing.
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Mabel,
You must have had a lot of surprises going to movies without knowing what they are about. Interesting idea. 😉
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I’ve seen this movie advertised a lot so it’s great to have your review. I don’t normally like time travel, as it’s too artificial a device – with the exception of Midnight in Paris which I love – so I wasn’t sure whether I’d see this. Plus, with Richard Curtis you usually have to be in the mood to be emotionally manipulated, and I rarely am. Well, if it’s done with a light hand, it works. Too much and I feel completely alienated. So all this is to say I am delighted to read your review and not have to worry that I’m missing a really good movie!
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litlove,
If you have time in the future, maybe on a second run theatre screen, you might want to see it. It’s not too bad, esp. with Bill Nighy. Keep it in mind for a DVD selection or something like that. Midnight In Paris definitely belongs to another class. 😉
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Back to the Future isn’t on you time travel favorites list? How can that be??? 😉 Too bad this one didn’t quite live up to your hopes for it.
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Stefanie,
You know, I did type in that title and then decided to delete it. I totally admire MJF, and that movie is fun. But, maybe it just didn’t have the impact these other ones had on me. Hey… I watch the Michael J. Fox Show every week now. Hats off to him. 😉
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