The British time travel film, About Time uses a recognizable theme. That is, go back and change the past to change something in the future. Usually this has devastating consequences, such as in the movie, The Butterfly Effect. But in About Time, the devastation is limited. The changes mostly have positive effects, and when negative things do happen, they are reversible. For instance, when Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) travels back to help his sister Kit Kat (Lydia Wilson), he has to travel back before his own child was born, resulting in him coming home to another child. He has to go back and undo it, allowing his sister to mess up her life in order for the correct child to be born. But as I said, mostly, the changes were for the better. I suppose this is because About Time is a romantic comedy.
 | About Time was written and directed by Richard Curtis of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones's Diary, Notting Hill, and Love Actually fame. |
At first Tim Domhnall seems a strange choice as leading man. The ginger haired actor isn’t the handsome type like Hugh Grant always played in some of Curtis’s other films. He seemed like a gawky teenager. But as the film advanced, it worked wonderfully.
The film also stars Canadian actress, Rachel McAdams as Mary, who is in another well-known time travel film, The Time Traveler’s Wife. (Click BLOG for my post). McAdams is adorable in the role, and Mary and Tim have genuine on-screen chemistry.
The main premise: Tim’s dad, played by Bill Nighy informs him that the men in the family have the ability to time travel to the past, but only events in their own lives. Dad discourages Tim to use the power to become rich or famous, but does encourage him to use it for things that would truly make him happy. Instead of wealth or fame, Tim chooses love. But upon trying, he soon realizes he can’t make someone fall in love with him, such as Kit Kat’s friend, Charlotte (Margot Robbie). She just isn’t attracted to him. Nothing he does, changes the outcome.
Charlotte (Margot Robbie) and Kit Kat (Lydia Wilson)
He then meets Mary and an instant connection is formed. But after he helps his dad's friend avert a tragedy in his life, he undoes the meeting, loses Mary’s phone number and has to meet her all over again.
Other sentimental parts of the film is the relationship between Tim and his dad. This is especially true when his Dad is diagnosed with terminal cancer and finally dies. Tim can go back and see him. But when Mary become pregnant again, he knows once the baby is born, he can never see his dad again because he then runs the risk of changing the baby to another soul. So they have one last time travel moment together, running and being happy along the beach.
Even though critic have complained there were holes in the plot, all in all, About Time is a fun film, with a satisfying, bitter sweet ending.
Click the Image below for my Amazon page. Read the Time Pilgrim series.
RSS Feed
