Beauty in the Small Things

About Time

From 1994 through the early 2000’s it seemed that anything writer/director Richard Curtis (Notting Hill) touched would turn to box office success. Now of course I am purely speaking from an American perspective, not entirely sure of how popular the British filmmaker is in his native country. Curtis’ films were always the romantic/feel good type and they always encompassed an amazing cast. Slight confession, I watch Notting Hill and Love, Actually constantly just to be reminded of how wonderful love can be. So believe me, when word of him releasing a new movie came around, I was thrilled. Though, two years later I actually just now have gotten around to watching About Time.

At 21 years of age, life can be complicated for anyone. Among all of life’s cruelties at this age, Tim Lake’s (Domhnall Gleeson Ex Machina) life has just become even weirder. This is due to the fact that his father (Bill Nighy Love, Actually) has just informed him that all the males in his family have the ability to travel backward in time. After the initial shock has worn off, the only thing that Tim wants more than anything is love. Enter the girl, Mary (Rachel McAdams Southpaw), whom Tim meets on a ‘blind’ date.

Okay, so I am going to stop right there. This film was marketed extremely wrong. This film is about love and partially about Tim’s pursuit of Mary, but the general idea of the film is just about Tim’s life and more about the love he has for his father. Not the first film to be marketed wrong and I can understand why being Curtis’ history with romantic comedies, I am sure Universal Pictures just wanted a broader audience. On the other hand, this is not Curtis’ best work and the film is a large mixed bag of feelings for me.

The Good (yep I have to do this) : About Time is a very sweet/good natured film that wants nothing more than to convey one simple bit of advice to its audience…live every day to its fullest. In a very roundabout way, the film tries to teach us that life is going to have its ups and downs, but it is how we see the beauty within life that is going to ease the pain. Gleeson takes over for Hugh Grant as the awkwardly funny, kind hearted protagonist. Gleeson has great timing and hysterical delivery that made me find his charm ever more. McAdams is great as well, playing Mary as a sarcastic but loving love interest. Nighy melted my heart in every scene he was in. I don’t know if there was anyone more perfect for this part.

The Bad: The rules of time travel (Tim’s dad lays them out for him) are played very fast and loose when the movie is in its latter stages. I’m not sure if this was to keep about with the story or because Curtis just didn’t care. Speaking of the story, there is really not problem in this film. For example, in Notting Hill Grant falls in love with Roberts, Roberts breaks his heart, Grant then breaks Roberts’ heart, and then they kiss and make up. The pure formula for a Rom-Com right? Here there is nothing to overcome, no build to a climax. The film just follows a time in Tim’s life and all that he needs to deal with. So it was a little boring. I was always waiting for a break up and a solution that time travel couldn’t fix, but no such luck.

I really don’t know how to recommend this film. I liked the comedy and the light tone, but the point of the story seemed to get lost somewhere. I still love Richard Curtis and I am hoping for another Four Weddings and a Funeral-like Rom-Com, but this wasn’t it. Here: You want to waste some time, watch a movie, and not have to worry about the drama/violence/seriousness of most movies nowadays…watch this. Emotional at points, but mostly a great retrospect on life and how we need to savour every beautiful moment.

The Verdict: Check Out On HBO.