Since the February release of the zombie love story movie Warm Bodies, romantic comedies have been largely missing from theaters in 2013. With The To Do List struggling to strike a balance between funny and raunchy and Austenland failing to effectively translate Jane Austens wit and humor from the page to the screen, the release of About Time is most definitely a refreshing and welcome change for the genre.
Written and directed by Richard Curtis, About Time is the hilarious tale of a young and awkward Brit, Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson), who finds that he has the power to travel back in time and alter any part of his life. The audience follows Tim through his trials and tribulations as he attempts to fix both the major and minor problems he has encountered in the past.
Everyone who has ever had an awkward or uncomfortable interaction has at some point wished they could go back in time and fix it and Tim takes advantage of this fantasy-come-to-life in the most humorous of ways. From rewriting the first moments of the New Year as the way he meets the love of his life, Mary (Rachel McAdams), Tim takes viewers on a whirlwind of adventures as he uses his new power to deal with relationships, both romantic and familial.
Played by the charming Gleeson, Tim is one of the most loveable characters in the realm of rom-coms. Gleeson deftly portrays the naive and sincere Tim, and his work is consistent and impressive throughout the film. Gleeson isnt new to the acting scene his credits include Never Let Me Go (2010) and the final two installments of the Harry Potter series but in his previous pictures he has mostly played supporting roles, receiving little screen time. About Time marks a departure from these lesser characters. Gleeson delivers a charismatic and graceful performance, and viewers will undoubtedly look forward to seeing more of him as a leading man in the future.
By pairing Gleeson with the adorable McAdams, Curtis manages to turn a typical boy-meets-girl plot into a unique and genuine love story. McAdams character is the classic girl-next-door. Naturally beautiful and extremely heartfelt, Mary is able to keep her composure more often than Tim. She is the perfect complement to his character, and their on-screen chemistry so present and palpable makes the film all the more enjoyable.
Curtis has also crafted likable, authentic characters beyond just the two leads the relationships Tim and Mary have with the rest of the cast are incredibly real. Tims treatment of his ditsy yet troubled younger sister, Kit Kat (Lydia Wilson), is tender and affectionate, but Curtis adds certain subtleties to their dynamic that makes their kinship feel honest and true to life. Indeed, the entire cast all of whom are talented actors meshes seamlessly together, creating a satisfying end result.
It is not surprising that About Time has such genuine and subtle humor considering it comes from Curtis, the creator of the beloved Love Actually (2003) and Notting Hill (1999). Both of these British films were romantic and emotional while still maintaining the comedy aspect of romantic comedies. About Time very skillfully captures and emulates the same humor and romance that made these earlier films so successful.
Although the boy-meets-girl plot is certainly hackneyed, About Time adds other elements candid humor, genuine relationships and a cast that just clicks to make the movie so much more than just another rom-com.
