About Time
By Jeffrey M. Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sweet time travel romcom with strong language, some sex.
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About Time
Community Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Good movie
Some of the tropes it leans on don't work well
What's the Story?
After turning 21, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) has a discussion with his father (Bill Nighy) and learns that he has the ability to travel through time to any point in his own life. He spends a summer learning to use his gift and fails to win his summer crush, a pretty blonde houseguest. One night, he meets Mary (Rachel McAdams) and falls in love. Unfortunately, he learns that by changing other events that happened that night, he hasn't actually met her yet. So he must re-meet Mary and win her again. More complications arise when he learns that his time traveling affects his children. But as his time destinations become more limited, he begins learning deeper and more profound lessons about life.
Is It Any Good?
This is a low-key and heartwarming entertainment. One of our finest comedy writers, Richard Curtis worked on beloved British TV shows like Mr. Bean and Black Adder before making a splash in movies with Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Bridget Jones's Diary. His directorial debut was the wonderful Love Actually. But as he continued directing, it became clear that he did not grasp brevity; all of his films run over two hours. Moreover, in addition to being precious about his material, Curtis has also become precious about his characters; nobody in ABOUT TIME is really tested in any serious way. The movie goes easy on them. But aside from that, the characters are really loveable and their relationships are delightfully old-fashioned and touching. Bill Nighy in particular gives a wonderful performance. Neither the father-son story nor the love story is given more weight, and the time travel aspect never takes over. (It's also refreshingly free of visual effects.)
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's attitude toward sex. Do characters seem more interested in casual sex or in establishing deeper connections? How does this message differ from traditional Hollywood movies?
What would you do if you had time travel powers like Tim's? Would you help others?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the family relationships in the movie? How are we supposed to feel about the family?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 1, 2013
- On DVD or streaming: February 4, 2014
- Cast: Bill Nighy , Domhnall Gleeson , Rachel McAdams
- Director: Richard Curtis
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 123 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language and some sexual content
- Last updated: May 2, 2024
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