Charming time-travel story, with elements of 'Groundhog Day.'

Rating: Null/10 (29 April 2014)

I wasn't sure what to expect, I got the DVD from my public library and purposely avoided seeing the trailer, they usually reveal too much. So when Tim turned 21 and his dad pulled him aside, and told him the men of their family all are born with the ability to time-travel, it was a complete surprise to me.
The time-travel has constraints, you can only travel to a prior time, one that you have lived and can now imagine. You simply go into a darkened closet or room, clinch your fists, close your eyes, and imagine the exact time you want to go back to. Later, clench your fists again and go back to the present.
It has some elements of 'Groundhog Day' where Phil learns a bit more each day about how to snare the girl of his dreams. Here, when Tim makes an awkward and unsuccessful approach, all he has to do is go back a few minutes and try it over.
Domhnall Gleeson is really good as Tim who, after he turns 21, goes to London to live and work as a lawyer. At one point his lawyer friend comments that Tim is really good, when it looks like he is sure to lose a case he somehow comes up with something to win. Time-travel, obviously, although they don't dwell on it.
When in London he meets up with Rachel McAdams (one of my favorites) as American Mary, living and working in London as a 'reader' for a book publishing firm. His meeting her gets a bit complicated, as when he travels back to fix a different problem for a friend, thus missing the actual meeting time for Mary, has to devise a different way to gain her friendship, and eventual love.
If simply described in writing the premise can sound a bit 'hokey' but in fact is very good and presents many meaningful and humorous situations. One is being able to visit dad, played well by Bill Nighy , to recreate some moments from when Tim was a child. Or to have some last moments with dad after he gets sick.
The whole story spans perhaps 8 to 10 years, judging by the ages of the eventual children. The overarching message in the movie is to enjoy every day, and enjoy the people around you. The rest is fantasy, for entertainment, and it works very well.
It was also nice seeing Lindsay Duncan again, playing Tim's mother. She was Ann Mayle in the 1990s mini-series "A Year in Provence" which I enjoyed so much I have the DVD set.