About Time - Film Review

Rating: 4/10 (20 October 2013)

After a ten year absence from the rom-com genre, Richard Curtis must have thought; it's "About Time" I made another. Alas, "About Time" was made. The film stars Domhnal Gleeson, who fills the boots of Hugh Grant as Curtis' lead man, only to be accompanied by the always elegant Rachel McAdams.
As one might imagine, the film is simply, about time. Domhnal Gleeson plays Tim – a pleasant, romance –obsessed young Englishman looking for love. Sadly, despite his best efforts, he struggles to find it. This is until his father (Bill Nighy) unveils the family secret that will change Tim's fortunes – That Tim can travel back in time.
What unfolds is a series of Groundhog-Day-like trips to the past, where Tim desperately tries to change his romantic loses. Tim's counter- clockwise visits create the bulk of the comedy, as he awkwardly tries to woo the beautiful Mary, played by Rachel McAdams.
A light-hearted touch is maintained for the most part. As a result you have plenty of goofy characters pitching in along the ride whilst Gleeson tries to shape his life into an ideal mold. As the film leads to a more dramatic second half, Curtis induces thought provoking questions of life, as Tim discovers the many consequences that arise from changing his past. Curtis does well to avoid being overtly profound, achieving a delicate crescendo in tone as the film draws its meaning.
"About Time" sweetly delivers its message by the conclusion. However despite Tim's love infused nature, the film tends to lag romantically. A potentially harmonious chemistry between McAdams and Gleeson is often side-lined for clockwork antics. Romance and time - if no longer unique - still remains a fun concept. However, "About Time" doesn't equate to time warped predecessors like Benjamin Button and Midnight in Paris.