What would happen to your life if you could have “do-overs” for important life events? (I’m sure my golf handicap would decline and I’d do a lot better in the stock market.) This movie takes off with this interesting fantasy as its premise.
Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) is a lawyer in his 20’s. His father ( the always classy and funny Bill Nighy) informs him that the men in their family can travel back in time and thereby alter the course of their lives for the better.
Tim meets Mary (Rachel McAdams), flubs their first encounter but then he goes back in time to have a chance to win her love. Numerous other events occur with Mary that are quite funny with Tim going back in time to eventually save the day.
This unique superpower, however, has its limits. The movie asks the interesting questions, how much control do we have over our lives and what difference does it make in the long run anyway?
The Director/Screenwriter (Richard Curtis) has made a good movie but it’s not as strong as some of his other films (Four Weddings and a Funeral; Notting Hill, and Love, Actually).
The movie is slow for the first 30 minutes but gets moving once Rachel appears on the screen. (I am a huge McAdams fan and I hope she gets a serious movie where she can demonstrate her talent.)
The film will work well as a rental but if you don’t have anything else you want to see more it’s funny and interesting enough to see on the BS.
Rating-7.5
Dave
