This is a review of the movie ‘About Time’ from a girl who rarely ever watch chick-flicks.
Believe it or not, I can count with one hand, movies of this kind I have watched, under no duress, before now. Okay, I admit there was a tiny tiny persuasion from hubby to watch this with him. Really, if I do have an inclination to watch romance, I usually stick with the comedy variety. As they come by the dozen, I’m sure you would agree they also easily fly out of the window after the credits roll. Alright, not all. But the stories usually are a hit or miss. Well, this movie is a bit different than usual, surprisingly.
‘About Time’ portrays a guy who can travel back in time. I know, I know, but hear me out first. The movie is a time travel fantasy romance with the lead guy having strong ties with his family especially with his father.
Tim (Domhnall Gleeson), your usual intelligent geek type, was told by his father that at 21, all males in their family can travel back in time. They can’t change history, but they can change what has happened in their life. He decided to use this gift to find a girlfriend. “Massive”, huh?. He met Mary (Rachel McAdams), the girl next door type who could use a bit of self-confidence. I wish I could say, “they fell in love, had a family, and lived happily ever after”, but life is a bit more complicated than that.
Tim realized that if he changed something in the past, present circumstances also changed. He was confronted with life-changing decisions and must choose one over the other. Ultimately, something or someone has to be sacrificed. But in the end, everything turned out for the better.
The chemistry between Tim and Mary is amazing on screen. I think Rachel McAdams played her part, wonderfully. Another hit for Rachel! Their sweet moments are never too sugary. They’re just everyday believable scenes. Any couple can relate. I actually forgot it’s a fantasy movie.
Meanwhile, Tim and his relationship with his father really gets under my skin, in a good way. I just love those walks on the beach when Tim was still little, those outdoor family tea parties, reading books on the couch, and just having a father and son time and talking about life in general. Then, there’s his elfin sister who’s a bit of a handful sometimes, but whom he loves dearly, his mother with her satirical humor and of course his uncle with his short-term memory lapses, certainly add interesting elements to the story.
Considering the movie to be on the lighter side of drama, with a touch of romance and comedy, I didn’t mind about the time travel bit at all.
I hate to admit, but this movie makes me think about life. I guess it has stuck in my mind like glue and wouldn’t come off for a while. Proof? I’m writing about it now. It feels like doing those psychology assignments all over again.
If you are a fan of light drama mixed with romance and comedy, you’d better not miss this one. How they balanced the drama, romance, comedy, with a bit of fantasy on this film, I have no idea, but they did, and perfectly, too.
Spend your time in any delightful way as you possibly can.