I can understand why people wouldn't like this movie. Each
heartstring-tugging moment (and there are many) is matched by a plot hole,
which I suppose is to be expected when one (writer/director Richard Curtis, he
of Love Actually) mixes elements of
family/love/sentimentality with ill-defined time travel. Allow me to explain:
Our protagonist Tim Lake, played by the heretofore unknown
(to me) but wonderful Domnhall Gleeson is informed by his father on his 21st
birthday that the men in the family can travel back in time. Warned by Dad that getting rich quick isn't
the way to go, Tim instead focuses his ability on finding love. You can imagine
the benefits. An awkward line here, below-par sex there, and woooosh, second chance (and third and so
on). Soon enough he meets his One (the ever vivacious Rachel McAdams) and
figures out how to turn their meet-cute into something more. If Tim didn't mean
so well and Gleeson didn't play him so earnestly, this behavior could come off
as creepy, but it works here.
Disappointingly, the time travel element of About Time makes little sense. Rules are handed down and broken
without consequence. The Butterfly Effect gets its requisite mention but
nothing comes of it. And there’s no mention of the ethical and moral
implications of affecting others’ lives by rewinding time. Curtis would
presumably tell you that the time travel isn't the focus of the film but it’s
nonetheless silly to leave such gaps of logic.
That said, the emotional element hits and hits hard. Though About Time seems at times engineered to
make you feel, you succumb anyway. Thought Field
of Dreams made you want to call your father? That this feeling is drawn from such a
haphazardly plotted film with little in the way of true conflict is a testament
to the cast. Gleeson and McAdams (who doesn't get much to do, in truth) are terrific but the real star is Bill Nighy, as Tim’s father. His brilliance lies
is in how he underplays his lines for effect; in one scene, he matter-of-factly
states to Gleeson’s character that he rewound their conversation simply because
he was embarrassed he asked for a hug. Nighy’s constant energy and movement
lend a real warmth to his character and you quickly get a feel for what growing
up with him as father would've been like. It’s more a father-and-son film than
the romantic comedy it purports to be.
About Time presents
an interesting juxtaposition. One the one hand, the plot is ludicrous while on
the other, the themes are clear and are presented with emotional depth (and
humor). Live each day as if you can’t repeat it! Family is the tie that binds! Messages
that are far from original but always bear repeating. Your mileage will depend
on your ability to reconcile the two. Clearly About Time isn't for everybody, but it was for me.
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