Review of About Time (2013) by Thomas W — 07 Jun 2014

I admit to avoiding this film as I believed its preview made it look like some overly sugared and cloying treacle made even more unbearably sweet by being drenched in a thick syrup of fake romanticism.

I feared this because of its 'Groundhog Day' plot device that would have allowed About Time to easily over-do it in the dreamily amorous sigh/swoon department as it is the story of a young man who discovers he has the ability to travel in time to change small events in his life for either better or worse.

The romantic angle of the film was heavily played-up/hyped in the trailers as the young man, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson - True Grit), decides to use his ability to get himself a girlfriend and a nearly perfect relationship with Mary (Rachel McAdams - The Notebook).

While romance is a major portion of the movie (and its primary selling point), the film's story between father (Bill Nighy - Love, Actually) and son is just as important -- and the one I actually found to be more touching.

About Time is a relationship drama with a rather flimsy sci-fi twist (as most of the time travel "rules" seem to be made up as the film progresses). I can definitely see why About Time was touted as a "date film" but had the father-son story been used in the advertising some more I would think there would have been less aversion to it for some.

As one who doesn't mind romance -- the director's first film, Love Actually, is an excellent film that is almost ALL romance -- this one did strike me as too much so in the beginning; but it really wasn't at all.

Curtis has weighted it well and it comes across as something rather wise ... and one I am glad I ended up watching.