Unusually beguiling twist for ‘ordinary’ love story
MCADAMS AND GLEESON. Liberating spirit of shared generosity.
We had the bad luck of watching two filmic duds in a row last month, so when we lined up to catch “About Time,” we hoped against hope that disasters didn’t come in threes! —Well, thanks goodness, they don’t.
Richard Curtis’ film is an especially endearing viewing treat, because it tells an “ordinary” love story—with an extraordinary twist! Its male protagonist (Domhnall Gleeson) has the rare paranormal gift of being able to manipulate time.
Using this rare talent to his advantage, he is able to correct and transform the low points and mistakes in his life into a series of success stories.
Thus, when he falls for the love of his life (Rachel McAdams), he “adjusts” events so creatively that he makes her “unmeet” her present boyfriend—so, the coast is clear for him to step into her romantic picture—and future!
After a while, however, the protagonist’s unusual advantage takes most of the excitement, fear and unpredictability out of living. —So, the writer-filmmaker “inserts” a limitation that brings the “necessary” prospect of failure back to his lead character’s life: When he “erases” his beloved sister’s car accident, he sets off other changes in his own life, like his coming home, not to a daughter, but to a son!
Consequences
Thus, he decides not to directly help his sister because of the dire negative consequences it can effect in his existence.
Instead, he and his wife loyally stay with his recuperating sibling—until she decides to reorder and refocus her life to avoid getting into self-destructive accidents in the first place!
What makes “About Time” unusually believable and empathetic is the production’s astute casting of the “perfectly ordinary” Gleeson as its protagonist. Had it chosen the usual drop-dead-handsome actor to play the part, he wouldn’t have needed the extra advantage of time manipulation to make a success of his life!
Also well-cast are Bill Nighy as the time traveler’s dad, and McAdams as his wife. Together, the three ace thespians forge a strong and believable bond that eventually includes the empathetic viewer in its psychic fusion.
The most instructive lesson that the time traveler learns toward the end of the film is the importance of not just living life safely, but in an engaged manner, with all of his senses in full play—and constantly grateful for the excitingly and beautiful gift of living. More, he learns how to himself be a gift to others.
Due to this developed spirit of shared generosity, he ultimately realizes that he doesn’t even need his special advantage any longer. —So, he confidently gives it up, and embraces the “risky” joys and dangers of being truly, courageously alive!
