[rating:3.5/5]
The question is almost cliché — if you could travel back in time, would you? The Director’s Choice film of the 16th annual Savannah Film Festival doesn’t ask this question. Instead, it spends two hours simply having fun with the idea.
“About Time” is the story of Tim, played by quirky Brit Domhnall Gleeson. On his 21st birthday, his father tells him that the men in the family can travel into the past. And being a romantic, Tim uses his gift to pursue Mary.
Mary is played by Rachel McAdams in her third outing as the love interest of a time traveler. She has the cute “Oh, you love me?” look down to a science, and makes good use of it when Mary meets Tim. But after that, McAdams’ charms burn out. Mary isn’t a terribly interesting human being, and McAdam’s failed at making her anything memorable. She’s American, likes Kate Moss and wants babies.
That’s it.
And the lovers’ chemistry, in spite of Tim’s efforts to win Mary’s heart, never really takes off. She simply isn’t weird enough for the quirky lover trope to work.
Luckily though, trailers for “About Time” incorrectly play it up as a romantic comedy. It is at first, but once the wedding ring is on Mary’s finger, the plot actually starts breaking ground.
The story’s real punches hit with the family. Billy Nighy and Lydia Wilson play Tim’s father and sister, Kit Kat. And as it turns out, the more interesting uses of Tim’s gift involve trying to help his sister out of a bad relationship rather than help himself into bland Mary’s pants. He does that too, three times in one night, going back in time until he knows what to do.
He also uses his power to help Harry, a family friend, playwright and Tim’s roommate. Harry is played by Tom Hollander, another scene stealer from an impressive supporting cast.
Clever moments like repeatedly sleeping with Mary to impress her help to propel the story and make familiar territory seem fresh. Pick the wrong best man at your wedding? Rewind. Regret not locking lips with that awkward girl that one time? Rewind. Car accident? Yes, rewind again. And the nifty trick that allows the family men to change the past is refreshingly simple. Go into a dark room, clench your fists, and close your eyes. On screen, this translates as a flash of images and you’re in the past — a fittingly modest take on time travel.
Still, clever moments both heartwarming and tear-jerking backed up by a stellar supporting cast don’t negate the unoriginal love story that takes up more than its fair share of screen time. So isn’t it ironic that the scene where Mary and Tim meet is the worst in the film (I’m referring to the first time he meets her, the first first time she meets him). They meet at some strange restaurant called “Dans La Nuit” where diners dine in the dark. You don’t see them eating, and they don’t see eachother, but you hear them talking. It’s supposed to be cute, but you stare at a black screen for a few seconds too long listening to Rachel McAdam’s, again, fall in love with a time traveler.
But if that is simply your thing, I would recommend “Midnight in Paris” instead.
