A movie about time-travel with a slight twist

Rating: 8/10 (8 August 2016)

A movie about time-travel with a slight twist, 'About Time' is a British romantic comedy drama directed by Richard Curtis and starring Domnhall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy.
Domnhall Gleeson plays the role of a young man(Tim Lake) from a seemingly normal family of his parents, sister and his absent-minded uncle that is until his father tells him about the unique ability the men in his family have. Tim has the ability to go to any moment in his life which he has lived by thinking a little hard about it. While his father has used his time-travelling ability to read books, he advises Tim to use this ability to improve his life. But there was only one thing which Tim would use the ability for, to get himself a girlfriend.
Behind the amusing story of Tim trying to find love in his life, lie some really great messages on how to make the most of your life. Richard Curtis has beautifully and subtly portrayed them. Tim has the ultimate gift which almost everyone wishes to have, to be able change past mistakes, to be able to do things which we missed out or held ourselves from. Tim can live any past day again for the umpteenth time. But his journey through the film teaches him to live everyday just once but as if it is the second time and appreciate the small but important things in life. At one point in the film, he tries to better his sister's life by changing her past decisions but when he realizes the repercussions of this method, he has to undo the changes and finally helps his sister clean up her act in the present. His journey also teaches him to let go of things, in this case his father, and accept life as it comes.
The only problem with the movie which I found was a small issue with his powers. Tim discovers that if he jumps to time before his children are born, he might lose them or get other ones due to various factors. But this was essential to actually impart the messages which underlie the film.
The performances by Domnhall Gleeson and Bill Nighy(Tim's father) are spectacular and invoke a feeling of deep connection with the character. Rachel McAdams plays the role of Tim's unknowing wife portraying a strong character who supports the unsure Tim in his problems with life.
The movie touches upon some sensitive issues like the lack of time we face and how we miss out on the small but important things in life and gives an important less i.e. to appreciate the life which you have and to live it with no regrets.