Review: About Time (2013)

Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy
Director: Richard Curtis
Country: UK
Genre: Comedy | Drama | Sci-Fi
Official Website: Here

Editor’s Notes: About Time opens in North America on November 8th.

Rachel McAdams is undoubtedly the queen of the Rom-Com, having appeared in more Rom-Coms than Johnny Depp in Tim Burton films. About Time (or The Time Traveller’s Wife 2 as I like to call it) is no exception to this formula, as she finds herself in yet another Rom-Com predicament; but for once, she isn’t the star. That title is indisputably embezzled by the Irish thespian Domhnall Gleeson in his first major leading role in this Richard Curtis-helmed Sci-Fi Rom-Com. About Time is a surprising delight, managing to be an intelligently witty, endlessly charming and painfully poignant British comedy, the likes of which haven’t been seen since 2003’s Love, Actually.

About Time is a surprising delight, managing to be an intelligently witty, endlessly charming and painfully poignant British comedy, the likes of which haven’t been seen since 2003’s Love, Actually.

On his 21^st birthday, the ginger, painfully introverted Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) learns from his father that he has the ability to travel in time; there are rules to this however. He can only travel backwards in time and only to moments in his life that he can remember. Soon enough, Tim begins to exploit this magnificent talent to find means to his own ends, primarily trying to woo the ladies. He soon finds that getting a girlfriend isn’t as easy as he might think and eventually moves to London to become a lawyer. Finally, he meets the beautiful Mary (Rachel McAdams) and it is love at first sight; until an unfortunate time-travelling faux pas occurs meaning that they have never met at all. Desperate to re-acquaint with her, Tim employs his unusual ability to cunningly allow them to meet again and again, with each time more perfect than the last, in order to win her heart. But as time progresses, he eventually finds that despite his unusual gift, he must still endure the sorrows that life inevitably brings to all families. He learns the limitations of his gift and the drastic changes that can occur from even the smallest change in his timeline.

About Time, despite its Rom-Com nature, is a film of unexpected depth, which is the result surprisingly not of the moral issues that accompany the notion of time-travel (such as the paradoxical disasters often explored in typical Sci-Fi films) but of the intimate intricacies of human relationships. These motifs are explored delicately without descending into unbearable sentimentality – the film maintains a light-hearted and jovial ambience through the first class performances of its characters. The film’s leading character is a typical lanky, awkward introvert played with likeable goofiness by the ever-rising Domhnall Gleeson. The British film veteran Bill Nighy, who brings his high-caliber charisma to a well-written role, complements Gleeson’s character beautifully. The dynamic of their father-son relationship is movingly tender and one of the many highlights of the film. There are moments of pure delight in About Time, notably the wedding; the magic of this scene accompanied by the sharp humour and charming endearment written into it leave it one of the most memorable scenes in the film. There are moments of comedy gold in About Time, with such dry and witty humour that has recently been lost in British Rom-Coms brought joyously back to the screen by an ostensible Rom-Com expert.

For its successes, About Time falls into the trap of cliché. The supporting characters and their subplots, such as the troubled younger sister with the alcohol and domestic problems, are cumbersomely tired and worn out storylines that fail to provide any real relevance to a plot that would stand strong without them.

For its successes, About Time falls into the trap of cliché. The supporting characters and their subplots, such as the troubled younger sister with the alcohol and domestic problems, are cumbersomely tired and worn out storylines that fail to provide any real relevance to a plot that would stand strong without them. They simply result in beefing out a film that is already over-long, engorged and brimming with plot aspects that should have been nipped in the bud during editing. Moreover, Gleeson’s character at times resembles a young Hugh Grant; the stereotype of a slightly gawkish, awkward bumbling Englishman is once again exploited for somewhat predictable results. But from the man responsible for penning Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Love, Actually – some of Hugh Grant’s biggest hits – expectations of a completely foreign lead male were resoundingly low.

About Time is undoubtedly flawed, but is upheld by its strong moral and narrative purpose, clever and witty writing and Domhnall Gleeson’s strong lead; it is unquestionably one of the finest recent additions to the British Rom-Com canon and a film as uplifting as it is heartbreaking. Complemented by its upbeat soundtrack and its pace resonant of youthful energy, About Time is a deliciously heart-warming romantic comedy that is a modern delight and must-see for fans of Richard Curtis-penned films.

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Zoe De Pasquale

Staff Film Critic

Having been raised on a steady diet of 'Star Wars' and 'The Lord of the Rings', I learned from a very young age that film was a form of escapism, as well as entertainment. I see film as a true form of art, not only because it evokes emotions within a person, but it allows people to learn something about themselves merely by watching. My love for film is intrinsic to who I am and teaches me new things everyday.

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