The Film
Writer/director Richard Curtis has a real knack for the rom-com. He seems to be one of the few filmmakers out there that can create something for this under-appreciated genre and not have it be total crap. If you're in need of evidence, please see Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones's Diary, and most notably, Love Actually.
After taking an eight-year holiday from the rom-com genre, Curtis is back with About Time -- and it appears that he hasn't lost his touch.
About Time is the story of Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson), who discovers shortly into his 20s that he has the ability to travel back in time. Some people would use this newfound power to meet Jesus or defeat Hitler. However, that appears to be against the rules, so Tim channels his gift into righting some of his romantic wrongs.
While time travel does allow Tim a few perks, it's not all it's cracked up to be, especially when it involves the girl of his dreams (Rachel McAdams). From there, Tim learns about the consequences of his actions and how to truly cherish what he has, without always getting a do-over.
The movie has a real sweetness to it and the pairing of Gleeson and McAdams really adds to that. However, when you mention to someone that a movie includes "time travel," there are typically some preconceived notions. A lot of people would automatically claim the movie to be stupid, some would think it's unrealistic, and a small selection of viewers would expect it to feature a hot tub. While Curtis does take a few liberties with the premise, About Time really isn't about the act time travel. It's more about how we spend that time. Consider About Time to be a decent way to spend yours.
The Picture
About Time isn't going to be the Blu-ray you grab for demo night. However, it does have a very nice 2.40:1 image. For the most part, it has a warm color palette, but everything is quite lifelike, from the skintones and clothing to the streets and country scenes. It's just as pleasurable as the content.
The Sound
Like most rom-coms, About Time is dialogue-heavy with a mixture of pop songs. Both sound perfect in this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. However, the track is also filled with ambient sounds from the streets, parties, and outdoors. Sometimes those surrounds pack a bit of an extra punch, especially when Tim embarks on a little time travel. Like the image, the audio is nothing super-memorable, but it's certainly above average for this genre.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
Don't be thrown off by the time-travel premise. About Time is a sweet movie that reminds us to stop and appreciate the little things, even when they aren't absolutely perfect. (And how that's usually when they're at their best.) It probably isn't the best Richard Curtis movie, but it is a Richard Curtis movie -- and you should respect that. The extras aren't going to woo anyone here, but the movie and the AV make About Time worthy of your time.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
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