About Time (2013)

*** ½ out of ****

I went into “About Time” expecting a nice little rom-com based around a silly little idea: that an individual has the ability to relive moments of his life over and over as frequently as he wanted in order to get it right. What I got instead was a beautiful, heart-aching story about love, loss and why we need to value every day of our lives.

Now don't get me wrong... the first half of the movie is light and fluffy just as the trailers would leave you to expect. Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) is a typical nice-guy who doesn't have a lot of luck with the ladies. But one day his dad (played beautifully by Bill Nighy) takes him aside and explains that the men in the family have the unique ability to “travel in time”. He explains that you can't just go anywhere in history, but if Tim wants to travel back to any point in his life, he has the ability to do so. This allows him to relive any particular moment, or just go back to whenever he wants and relive his life from that point.

Predictably, Tim uses his gift to give himself do-overs of embarrassing moments and missed opportunities, almost all having to do with girls. And though this part of the film is pretty lightweight, it is very well done and thoroughly enjoyable. There are even scenes with great laughs. But soon the movie takes a turn.....

Tim finds that sometimes going back changes things in ways he didn't intend. Some of his changes in his history make certain things in his life better, but also alter events to make it much worse (or at least substantially different). He and his father discuss the meaning behind all this and how careful Tim has to be with his gift to not ruin the good things in his life.

I don't want to say anything to spoil the last half of the film, so I will just say that Tim's understanding of his place in the world evolves in often painful ways. He finds that his ability to get everything right doesn't exempt him from loss, pain, or heartbreak. And though he can make his life anything he wants it to be, he can't make every life what he wants them to be.

Domhall Gleason is achingly wonderful as Tim in this film. Not in any way a heartthrob type, but he plays this role with the strength of any great leading man. His delivery coupled with his expressiveness make you connect with his character's emotions in a really delightful way. It is really a breakout performance for him. Playing Tim's dad is Bill Nighy, who is at least as good – but when is he not? The subtlety of his delivery, his cheeky expressions and bone-dry wit make his character something really special. Rachal McAdams is lovely as the leading lady, but it is Gleason and Nighy that make this movie truly memorable.

....and what a soundtrack.  I found that the music and score added tremendously to my enjoyment of the film.  And don't be surprised to find yourself searching Youtube for Jimmy Fontana singing "Il Mondo" when the movie ends.

There are time-paradox and metaphysical issues galore in “About Time” but it is a heart-wrenching, glorious film that leaves you feeling wonderful despite the tears in your eyes. Sure to be one of my personal favorite movies of all time, and probably already my favorite romantic comedy. A real gem.