Juan Barquin/Staff Writer
Of all the works of film and television that feature the narrative conceit of time travel, so few manage to get it right. Those that reside in a realm that isn’t heavy on the sci-fi atmosphere are even rarer. Yet, in comes Richard Curtis, a man who has delivered some of the most popular romances of the last decades, with a little film about learning to love life as time goes by.
While it certainly has an abundance of both romance and time travel, “About Time” is a more intimate and entertaining tale than the big old rom-com it’s marketed as. Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can travel back through his own lifetime when he reaches the age of 21. At first, his life seems to be dedicated to finding romance, but once he discovers the lovely Mary (Rachel McAdams), his priorities change, focusing on helping others more so than himself.
There’s something about Richard Curtis’ work with romance that honestly makes me set aside all my cynicism before watching his movies. “About Time” certainly takes some cues from “Love Actually” in its decision to focus on love in all its heart-breaking and inspiring forms, as well as the relationships between spouses being just as important as parent and child, but it stands beautifully as a work of its own.
Thinking of Gleeson as a lead man might seem hard, but his voice actually works wonders as a guide through the film. Even his lovesick puppy schtick doesn’t get old, and by all means it should. He’s an embarrassing little mess of a human being, but alongside Rachel McAdams – a woman who knows a thing or two about time-traveling gents – they make for a genuine pair of lovers.
Montages of passing time through their relationship and even their first date alone, taking place in one of those blind restaurants, are a true showcase of how natural their relationship feels, as well as proof of Curtis’ skill at crafting couples that feel real. Things like that are a real rarity for romantic comedies. That, and what Curtis does best: humor.
His cast works with him from start to finish to keep the humorous momentum going, and it’ll come as no surprise that Bill Nighy delivers nothing but gold. The laughs never take a backseat to the feeling of love in the air nor the tears that might arise from the film’s more tragic moments. And tragedy he delivers, never failing to remind us that self-sacrifice can only go so far and, to quote “The Phantom Tollbooth” for a second, that “time is a gift, fleeting and swift.”
That limitation of time isn’t always presented as a negative though, as the film is more interested in presenting something more light-hearted. “About Time” understands that life is about enjoying those little moments, and as Gleeson’s character smartly advises, “We’re all traveling through time together, every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish in this remarkable ride.”
Few people can take claim to making a good romance film in this day and age, where they’re rehashed constantly with one inane couple taking the place of another. Richard Curtis now has two of those under his belt thanks to the enchanting “About Time,” which is bound to leave anyone who steps in without their guard up with a smile on their face.
juan.barquin@fiusm.com
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