[Movie Review] About Time (2013)

About Time is a 2013 British romantic comedy science fiction film revolving around time travel where a young man tries to change his past to have a better future.

The film is written and directed by Richard Curtis, starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy.

I was drawn to the movie because of Richard Curtis. He is one of Britain’s most successful comedy screenwriters, known primarily for romantic comedy films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Notting Hill and Love Actually, as well as the hit sitcoms Blackadder and Mr. Bean.

Curtis has said this is likely to be his last film as director, but that he will continue in the film industry. All the more this is a must-watch movie for fans of Curtis.

Rachel and I watched About Time at the preview screening on Tuesday. It was a sweet, lovely movie to watch, much like the rest of Curtis’ previous films.

The two leads were wonderful and have good onscreen chemistry:

Science fiction is not exactly Curtis’ genre though. There are lots of plot flaws with regards to the time traveling. However, if you can accept the confusing time travel as a plot device to guide the story along, you will enjoy the film pretty well.

I always prefer witty, acid British humour (think Jeremy Clarkson) compared to most America humour which tend to border on slapstick (think Rob Schneider). There is a good dosage of these in About Time which got both Rachel and I laughing.

The simple storyline on one man’s quest for love was endearing like the rest of Curtis’ previous films. Love is a theme which Curtis had always excel in and perfected over the years.

The key takeaway I got from this film was the resolve to treasure each day of my life more and to live each day to the fullest. Yes, I know these are cliches, but it is nice to be reminded of them in a light-hearted way.

Go catch this film with someone you love – be it a partner, one of your parents or a very dear friend. You will walk out the cinema feeling great about life, cherishing every second of it.

About Time is now showing in Singapore cinemas.