This review is several weeks late, because of its limited release. But I caught it at my local dollar theater just today, and I'm glad I waited. This was easily one of the most underrated, enjoyable films of the year.
Tim meets Mary (Rachel McAdams) at a restaurant, but his path changes when he decides to help his roommate after his play has a disastrous opening night. Tim and Mary meet for the first time multiple times. It's delightfully awkward to watch Tim interact with someone he knows, but he's never met before. The two have incredible chemistry, making their relationship seem so sincere. That and the dialogue is so realistic and comparable to everyday life.
This film has characters that feel refreshing, original even. Tim's little sister "Kit Kat" (Lydia Wilson) is lovably eccentric, and the sadly forgetful Uncle Desmond (Richard Cordery), while not remotely important or original, still brings laughs to the screen. Even Tim's coworker Rory (Joshua McGuire) can be remembered and loved after such a small amount of screen time.
Tom Hollander plays Harry, the playwright roommate of Tim. Everything he does is so over the top and theatrical, but it's perfectly timed comedy wise. His lines are just so specialized, that you could never pull off quoting them in real life.
The film relies heavily on cringe humor. The sustained awkwardness of the conversations are just so real, that the audience is forced to react. Because we've all been there. Tim may be an introverted social outcast, but when he gains the confidence to speak, he really is quite charming.
About Time doesn't just focus on Tim trying to get a girlfriend. It shows the life after he gets the girl. Gleeson and McAdams play the couple that everyone likes. They don't show off their love, and they don't fight all of the time either. They might just be one of the most easily likable couples Hollywood has produced.
Gleeson gives a fantastic breakthrough performance, and I can't wait to see what other work he gets out of this. McAdams plays the average girl so well, I think it would be hard to find a woman who couldn't relate to the character. The two of them form this perfect couple, that you everyone wishes they could become.
Bill Nighy's character surprised me. It's not often in film these days, that you see a father and son have this strong of a relationship without conflict. He comes off as a wonderful father and a loving husband. But it's as if there's nothing wrong with him. He is just so likable, there's no reason you could hate this guy.
Being a time travel movie, About Time is riddled with plot holes that no other movie of its sort can avoid. But it lays its rules out simply. You cannot travel back before your birth (i.e. you can't go back and kill Hitler), and you can't travel forward in time. The butterfly effect still applies, it just never had made that big of a ripple. All Tim has to do is stand in a dark place, clench his fists, and think of the moment he's traveling to. But he can't be in two places at once. So even for a time traveller, there may not be enough time in the world.
The thing about this movie, is that it's advertised as a romance. But it's not just for dates. It's for fathers and sons, newlyweds, our elders, and our young (but not too young). It's about life. I'd like to think this is a movie that everyone needs to see at some point. With spectacular dialogue (maybe some adlibbing), brilliant performances, original characters, and a message that can be applied to everyone, About Time makes you want to live every day as if it were to be your last.
Rating: A
I realize I'm starting off this blog by giving everything a high rating, but December is fantastic time of year for film.
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