Domhnall Gleeson
Rachel McAdams
Bill Nighy
Tom Hollander
Margot Robbie

Richard Curtis

123 mins.
Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Romantic Comedy
November 8, 2013

Rated R for language and some sexual content. (MPAA)

“About Time” is a British romantic comedy written and directed by Richard Curtis and starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lindsay Duncan, Tom Hollander, Lydia Wilson, and Margot Robbie. I wanted to mention all of the actors, because they really make this work. Their acting is wonderful; it’s clean. As a result, none of the characters comes across as annoying, even though that could have happened easily.

At first, I thought this film was simply a blend of a Hugh Grant romantic comedy and “Groundhog Day.” But as it progressed, it became its own entity. The premise is that a young man, Tim (played by Gleeson), finds out that he has the ability to time travel. Tim’s an awkward, yet not too awkward, sort of guy. He actually turns into a pretty self-assured man as the film progresses; that was nice to see. Gleeson does a great job of showing that without SHOWING that.

Tim’s father (Nighy) tells him that all of the men in their family have this ability and shares all of the rules that come along with it: He’s Tim’s Obi-Wan Kenobi. At first, Tim uses this power to win back the girl of his dreams (McAdams). Afterward, he finds other ways to use the power (with mixed results). Toward the second half of this film, I came to appreciate the writing a little more because the outcome of this power was used in ways that weren’t too obvious. Also, this film earns its message about love and life. It’s definitely not a new message, though.

If there’s a flaw here, then it’s this film’s inability to be consistent with its own rules. It sets up time-travel rules, only to break them later on when it’s convenient. I was willing to overlook this, though. If you don’t think that you’ll be able to, stay far, far away.

While “About Time” has been marketed as a Rachel McAdams vehicle in this country, this isn’t her film to carry. McAdams gives a typically wonderful performance, but it’s in a supporting role. Nighy also gives a typically wonderful performance, but Gleeson is the one who has to make this work. He does so without much fuss. He may be the next Hugh Grant in certain ways, which doesn’t mean that he’s the same as Grant. It’s just that he can interpret the same kind of rom-com character that made Grant famous.

By the end of this film, I appreciated it for its light touch and warmth. I wouldn’t call it funny; charming is more like it. This is a British film through and through, so there’s very little emotional manipulation, even when things get emotional. The main characters (played by Gleeson, McAdams, and Nighy) come across as people; that’s the success here. While this film isn’t perfect or novel, it doesn’t need to be. I enjoyed it. It grew on me.

Verdict: Good to Very Good

About: (Source: abouttime)

The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim’s (Domhnall Gleeson) father (Bill Nighy) tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can’t change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life – so he decides to make his world a better place…by getting a girlfriend (Rachel McAdams). But as his unusual life progresses, Tim finds out that his unique gift can’t save him from the sorrows and ups and downs that affect all families, everywhere. From filmmaker Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral), About Time is a comedy about love and time travel, which discovers that, in the end, making the most of life may not need time travel at all.