Movie Review: About Time

What if you could relive any moment until it was perfect?

From the creator of Love Actually and Notting Hill, About Time is a romantic comedy by Richard Curtis that will help you discover that making the most of life may not need time travel at all. I’ll open this review with the official synopsis of the film: At the age of 21, Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can travel in time. The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim’s father (Bill Nighy) tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can’t change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life—so he decides to make his world a better place…by getting a girlfriend. Sadly, that turns out not to be as easy as you might think. Moving from the Cornwall coast to London to train as a lawyer, Tim finally meets the beautiful but insecure Mary (Rachel McAdams). They fall in love then an unfortunate time-travel incident means he’s never met her at all. So they meet for the first time again—and again—but finally, after a lot of cunning time-traveling, he wins her heart. Tim then uses his power to create the perfect romantic proposal, to save his wedding from the worst best-man speeches, to save his best friend from professional disaster and to get his pregnant wife to the hospital in time for the birth of their daughter, despite a nasty traffic jam outside Abbey Road. But as his unusual life progresses, Tim finds out that his unique gift can’t save him from the sorrows and ups and downs that affect all families, everywhere. There are great limits to what time travel can achieve, and it can be dangerous too.

This is Rachel McAdams’ second time in a time-travelling romance themed film. My initial thought when I first saw her in the trailer was can’t she choose a role a bit different from Time Traveler’s Wife? I have a feeling that she’ll just repeat herself but of course she didn’t. As usual, she’s lovely in romantic comedies like this one. She has a palpable and warm chemistry with Domhnall Gleeson who is a brilliant lead. The supporting cast is fine but I find Richard Cordery’s character unnecessary. This is Richard Griffiths’ last film. He died last March 28. If his name is not familiar to you, he is Harry Potter’s cruel uncle Vernon Dursley. This is not a memorable cameo role to remember him by but it was so nice to see him for the last time.

For the story, there is no explanation why time travelling only affects male members of Tim’s family or why it only works in dark and contained places. It is merely a plot device but is still enjoyable. The interesting parts for me are during the early scenes where Tim strives to win Mary’s heart by using this special gift. In these scenes, he tries to perfect each bad moment and I find them hilarious from their first meeting up to their “wet” and fun wedding. Curtis has written some nice dialogues. There’s also a tender and touching father-and-son story in it. I particularly like these moments because of Bill Nighly’s charisma. He also moved me when his scenes with Gleeson have to be sentimental. I also like the selection of songs that pops up throughout the film. It adds to the mood of the scene. The wait for the film to end is a bit long with its subplots. This is my complain. They should have shortened it particularly Charlotte’s issues.

Despite its flaws, the film is charming overall. It’s something you would want to watch to make yourself feel light or to have a good time with a special someone.

Verdict:

With the charms of Bill Nighly, Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams, About Time is a flawed yet charming date movie.

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About the movie reviewer:

John Albert Villanueva is a self-confessed movie geek. He love movies so much that he watch almost every movies that’s out in the big screen and collects DVDs of classic films and the ones that won an Oscar. John Albert Villanueva review movies exclusively for Orange Magazine TV.