Time travel is an inherently challenging concept to convey in any medium, as it’s hard for a story to establish a firm set of rules that are logically satisfying. Whiletime travel itself is an interesting concept, it can often be used as a crutch to tie together unrelated plot points or make a radical shift in setting.Rachel McAdamsoddly has more experience with time travel than most performers of her generation, as she appeared in time-bending projects likeThe Time Traveler’s Wife, Midnight in Paris,andDoctor Strange. However, the 2013 science fiction romanceAbout Timeuses time travel to tella profound story of self-improvementand serves as McAdams’ best entry into the genre.
About Time
At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as you might think.
What Is ‘About Time’ About?
About Timefollows the young bachelor Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson), who lives in Cornwall, England with his sister Katherine (Lydia Wilson), his mother Mary (Lindsay Duncan), and his father James (Bill Nighy). As Tim prepares to move forward on a path of independence, his father takes him aside to reveal to him a secret: he has the power to travel back in time and relive key memories.The context of time travel as a family secret makesAbout Timea more interesting spin on the concept, as the stakes are entirely personal. Rather thanusing time travel as the inciting incident of a conflict,About Timeexamines the idea of different lived experiences. The tension of the story revolves entirely around whether Tim will be able to find his “perfect” life somewhere within the multitude of possibilities that he has at his disposal.
Tim is a great protagonist becausehe immediately takes his father’s words to heart; instead of using time travel to amass fame or fortune, he decides to use his unique gift to become the best version of himself possible.About Timeexamines how challenging it can be to make the right decisions, even if the consequences can be reversed. Tim approaches happiness like a puzzle that he needs to solve instead of simply enjoying the moments he has at his disposal. WhileGleeson’s performance is quite captivating, the film shows that Tim has not yet given himself the freedom to live out each of his potential paths to their fullest potential. He’s been so hyper-focused on “getting it right” that he’s ignored the possibilities that mistakes may lead him to.
The Best, Most Realistic Movie About Time Travel Cost a Mere $7,000 in 2004
“I will show you the most important thing that any living organism has ever witnessed.”
While filmmakerRichard Curtishas been criticized for theschmaltzy tone he brought to films likeLove ActuallyandNotting Hill, About Timeis as genuinely funny as it is sincere. The film’s portrayal of relationships, family disagreements, and the existentialism of youth feel so authentic that it’s easy to forget that the story is grounded in science fiction. In this sense,About Timeexamines how an “ordinary” person like Tim can lead an extraordinary life. While he doesn’t use his gift to make great travels or make significant breakthroughs, the gift of time allows him to celebrate the things that are in front of him. It’s quite profound to see how even the most seemingly inessential moments in his life become cherished memories that he can relive.
Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams Have Great Chemistry in ‘About Time’
While Tim uses his abilities to test out different possibilities within his future, he finds what he was searching for when he meets the American immigrant Mary (Rachel McAdams).McAdams inserts a burst of charismatic energy that transformsAbout Timefrom a quirky comedy into an endearing love story. It immediately becomes clear to Tim that he doesn’t need time travel to know that Mary is “the one.” This makes for an effective change in his motivation for the rest of the film; instead of searching for the person he wants to spend the rest of his life with, Tim wants to protect the precious moments that he has with Mary. Unlikeother romantic comedies,About Timeshows that happiness isn’t directly tied to memory; even though Mary won’t remember the alternative routes that their relationship could have gone, Tim thinks that making her happy is fulfilling in its own right.
McAdams is given one of her most challenging roles, as Mary lacks any knowledge of Tim’s powers for much of the story. While Tim can go into each interaction with preordained foresight into how she may react, Mary essentially returns to the status quo every time that their relationship is reset.McAdams’ performance is perfectbecause she retains the same sensitive, empathetic nature within each divergent timeline. While Tim may say the wrong thing or screw up a big moment at some points, she gives him the same love and forgiveness. Seeing the consistency of integrity Mary has within different versions of reality enforces why Tim is so desperate to give her the life that she deserves.
Why ‘About Time’ Is the Best of Rachel McAdams' Time Travel Movies
About Timeis the perfect use of Rachel McAdams, as it allows her to showcase an earnest, realistic character who just so happens to be thrust in a science fiction scenario. Comparatively, McAdams’ other time-travel roles failed to live up to these expectations.The Time Traveler’s Wifegrounded her in a dull melodrama,Doctor Strangedid not involve herdirectly in the story’s climax, andMidnight in Parissaw her cast against type as an aggressive, nasty character. The brilliance ofAbout Timeis that it’s a story about human relationships first, and a time travel adventure second.
About Timehighlights McAdams’ evolution as a performer, as she has certainly appeared in many different subgenres of comedy. While she earned herbreakout role as Regina George inMean Girls, McAdams has gone on to play more mature comedic leads in films likeGame NightandEurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Sagathat put a greater emphasis on their romantic elements.About Timeembodies this shift in her career, as it’sthe type of heartwarming storythat can evoke both laughter and tears from its audience.
About Timeis available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.
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