Director/Writer: Richard Curtis
Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel
McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson, Tom Hollander, Lindsay Duncan
Synopsis: Tim (Gleeson), a quiet, timid
21 year-old lives a mundane life with the notable lack of a girlfriend. Things
begin to take shape once his father (Nighy) reveals the family men are able to
travel through time. Tim quickly uses his inherited power to discover more
about life and, most importantly, to find love.
Richard
Curtis has long since departed from snappy satire in the form of Not the Nine O’Clock News and Blackadder; now associated with strings
of soppy romantic comedies. Yet, whilst his seminal television work feels like
a distant, beloved memory for some, there are others more than happy with his Four Weddings, Notting Hills and Love
Actuallys. He has an honest and indefatigable passion for the theme of love
that, for the ones who pine to see and feel it, makes for some entertaining
films. About Time, his latest
rumination on love – with added time travel to mix it up a bit – is quite
wonderful. Whatever flaws the film holds are, in the end, nearly forgotten
thanks to Gleeson, McAdams and Nighy and a touching exploration of a father/son
relationship.
Domhnall
Gleeson as the protagonist Tim makes a strong debut in this genre – much like
Hugh Grant did way back in 1994 with Four
Weddings and a Funeral. Without a hint of his thick Dublin accent, Gleeson
embodies the bumbling, shy Brit character perfectly. An everyman in his appearance
and personality, he quickly establishes a familiarity with the audience. The
same can be said for the film’s opening – a brief introduction of the Lake
family. Here Gleeson and Curtis’ script portray the normality that makes the
English rom-coms so accessible from the get-go.
With
the pleasant English countryside and genial family members spotlighted the film
then moves on to its hidden card in its cuff – the main character’s power to
travel through time. Time travel has been continually tricky to pull off effectively
in film and television and for About Time
the errors and ellipsis still remain. However, Curtis has ignored some rules
and added some of his own – the apparent lack of the Butterfly Effect but with
certain restrictions concerning genetics. As Tim so often states, his abilities
are often left by the way side in favour of living in life’s moments. About Time merely uses the time travel
element to highlight the importance of “now”. When Tim flashes back and forth
through his life it’s generally interesting and enjoyable but most appealing is
his damnation of re-living events and focusing on the unknown future and a
second-by-second existence.
With
a strong core message the film is genuinely uplifting. Its other agreeable
quality is the band of main actors. Gleeson is, as mentioned, a great screen
presence with an innate charm and wit (aided by Curtis’ own pen). To know
nothing about Gleeson and McAdams and to see only them holding hands would be
tough to imagine; not that certain people can’t be matched but they do appear
leagues apart. Original casting had Zooey Deschanel as his love interest – a
choice that whilst agreeable would not hold a candle to Rachel McAdams. McAdams
is one of the most divine women of contemporary cinema – down-to-earth and
gorgeous. Nevertheless, personality and voice blend tremendously together and
there is never a moment where you question their pairing. Third billing goes to
Nighy as Tim’s father. He initiates the narrative by telling Tim about his gift
– a scene that should be laughable and unbelievable neatly written and acted. Nighy
is Curtis' lucky rabbit's foot, continually adding worth to each film he's
written into. Whereas you'd expect McAdams to generate the film's emotion, it's
actually Nighy who earns that role, brilliantly molding the film from behind
the curtain more or less.
As
much as McAdams lights up the screen, the film shifts from her focus to that of
Nighy and Lydia Wilson’s tragic sister. This switch happens two thirds of the
way through, turning the film from a romantic comedy into a heartfelt drama.
Some may dislike the jarring change though they may be the ones not completely
invested in the humanity of the story. Tim and his father share a bond commonly
seen in families, with the added time travel skill that draws them closer
together; sharing that much they have a beautifully strong relationship. By the
end when time travel starts to prove difficult Tim spends more time with his
knowledgeable Dad, there is a narrative crux that triumphantly brings tears to
the audiences’ eyes*.
The
beauty of family, life and love are profoundly explored in some of About Time’s runtime. The fun time travelling
element may not be used as regularly in some viewers’ opinions though to see
beyond that is the film’s most precious attribute. It’s heart-warming and
smooshy, sure, but it’s also poignant and sincere. Most definitely the year’s
best romantic comedy and (if it’s to be believed) a delightful directorial
sign-off for Curtis.
****
*There
weren’t many dry eyes in the screening I went to
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