Review of Happy Accidents (2000) by Roy K — 30 Jan 2009

Happy Accidents was one of those halfhearted used-DVD purchases made when I wanted a fiz of escapism, but couldn't find anything that really, really grabbed me.

And then I ended up not watching it for a few months because I ran out of interest before I got home.

I was wrong. Happy Accidents is the story of a woman falling in love with an eccentric man. At first, he seems a little creepy or geeky, but she sees something in him that makes her take a chance on him. He has odd quirks, but then comes a big revelation. He thinks he is a time traveller. The rest of the movie is part rom-com (though without being all that funny), part drama (though no sob-stuff), part science fiction (no F/X though). And it really, really works.

The script allows itself some pretensions (the intercut flashbacky stuff near the start), and a very subdued sense of humour. It handles its character brilliantly. There are some plotlines that are never entirely convincing, but it does not matter, as the film generally treats its audience with intelligence and stays true to its central theme. I enjoyed this film a lot, and I'd recommend it.