The RomCom comes of age

Rating: 8/10 (26 July 2014)

Richard Curtis' most recent offering is, on the face of it, familiar ground. It appears to be a romantic comedy about a charming middle class boy and the girl of his dreams. But this time, there's rather more to it than that.
When Tim turns 21, he learns that he has the power to travel in time but only back to moments within his own life. He decides to use his ability to get himself a girlfriend. Which he does, although he has to meet the girl of his dreams (Mary) several times, and they fall in nice middle class love. This may seem like the usual Curtis formula but it really isn't.
Firstly, the central relationship is not between Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) and Mary (Rachel McAdams). It's between Tim and his father (Bill Nighy).
Secondly, the film is about more than love. It's about family, friends, life, choices, consequences, responsibility and several other themes. And love.
Thirdly, there is a depth, a heart and a soul to this film that is rare in the genre. It stays with you in a way that romantic comedies, in my experience, just don't. Ever.
Finally, there is a subtlety to the film that isn't present in Curtis' earlier work. The mawkish depths that romantic comedies are rather prone to are largely avoided here. Which is quite an achievement.
The excellent cast are well served by the sharpest and wittiest script that Curtis has produced to date. The bittersweet taste is present as expected, but it doesn't define the film. Here, the bittersweetness actually adds something to the film's flavour.
To sum up, this is Richard Curtis most mature effort so far. I've enjoyed his earlier work - they were fine examples of romantic comedy. 'About Time' is more than that. It's a fine example of a film.