Movie Review: “About Time”

Romantic comedies are the films that can be overly sentimental with moments of wit that take place as “boy-meets-girl” leads to “boy-loses girl- and-wins-girl-back”. Friends and family likely try to help the love match with comedic results. By the end, the audience leaves the theater either believing the on-screen chemistry or not.

“About Time” is a quirky version of the genre that gives “boy” multiple chances to right his life.  On the day of his 21^st birthday, Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) learns a family secret from his father (Bill Nighy) that alters his perception on things. This gift given to Tim is one that allows him to bend the space-time continuum to affect or just revisit past events of his life. Once he knows this, the young man uses this gift with a determination to enrich his life. Along the way, he meets a struggling playwright (an excellent Tom Hollander) and Mary (Rachel McAdams).

Tim learns his gift is useful for doing good deeds for others as well as ensuring his own happiness. However, he realizes there are limitations to this. What follows is a riveting set of scenes that show that family is what matters as well as the importance of living in the present and accepting your decisions.

My verdict: I enjoyed this movie. Domhnall Gleeson gave a great performance as Tim. His awkward nature leads to some of the film’s brightest spots. He had the comedic timing, yet could also bring out the emotional vulnerability a son has for his father. The scenes between Nighy and Gleeson are memorable and poignant.

The only thing that viewers might say is an issue with this movie is its sentimentality. By definition, a romantic comedy is supposed to have this element. However, I will admit that Tim and Mary get together and seem to lack the visible spark that couples should have in these pictures. They are a decent couple, but there are scenes where it seems you are moving along their timeline waiting for them to genuinely connect.

Oddly, the sentimental element comes from the father and son bond. I really felt Bill Nighy and Domhnall Gleeson had an emotional connection throughout this movie. The moment the film shifts focus to them, it resonated with me as a viewer.  Anyone with a sensitive side will probably need to bring a Kleenex as this film makes you think as much as it makes you feel.

Overall, “About Time” is a wonderful movie. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see a great story about a son maturing into a man as he actively seeks to control his destiny. Now, if only I could go back in time and return to the theater to revisit the first time I saw it… (8 out of 10)  

September Broadway Memories: Orlando Bloom, Zachary Levi, and Zachary Quinto

September was Broadway month for me. I was able to see three well-performed shows and see actors Orlando Bloom, Zachary Levi, and Zachary Quinto at the same time.

“Romeo and Juliet” (the Richard Rodgers Theater)-While it was still in previews, I was fortunate enough to get a front row seat to William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”.   This well-done revival stars Condola Rashad (Broadway’s “Stick Fly”) and Orlando Bloom (“Troy”, “Lord of the Rings”) as the central pair of the story. Orlando Bloom’s Romeo of the house of Montague is a romantic who needs an emotional boost after being turned down. Mercutio (Christian Camargo)-a scene stealer in his own right- and Benvolio (Conrad Kemp) drag him to a party being held by the Capulet family to lift his spirits. At this party, Romeo sees Juliet (Condola Rashad) and the newly acquainted pair arrange to meet again soon. Friar Laurence (Brent Carver) hears about Juliet from Romeo and intervenes to assist the two lovers in hopes the rival families could unite through this union.  Obstacles stand in the way of this goal, and signals get crossed. By the end, the image of the stage of the two families leaves an impression.   *"Romeo and Juliet" opened September 19^th, 2013 and is a limited engagement that is running for 13 weeks only*

“First Date” (the Longacre Theater)-The lone musical I saw in September, it is a new show that delighted the audience. Zachary Levi (NBC series “Chuck”; Disney’s “Tangled”) is hilarious as Aaron, a man with emotional baggage set-up on a blind date by a friend. Krysta Rodriguez (Broadway’s “the Addams Family”) is charming as Casey, the woman he meets. The bar/restaurant is the scene for an amusing real-time 90 minute date where the two face their issues literally on stage as the role of friends, family, and exes appear throughout the evening. People pop-up to offer advice (“The Girl for You”), or hinder the progress of the couple (“Allison’s Theme”, “That’s Why You Love Me”). Despite these mental distractions, Casey and Aaron help each other deal with their fears in order to move past them (“Safer” “In Love With You”). By the end of the night, you will feel the way Aaron and Casey do: that you have found “Something That Will Last” in your Broadway memories.*"First Date" opened August 8^th, 2013 and is not a limited engagement*

“The Glass Menagerie”- In this Tennessee Williams play, Zachary Quinto (“Star Trek” reboot; TV show “Heroes”) is entrancing as Tom Wingfield, the teller of the tale as well as a character in it. Tom guides the audience into memories he has of his mother Amanda (Cherry Jones) and his shy sister Laura (Celia Kennan-Bolger). Cherry Jones (Broadway’s “Doubt”; NBC series “Awake”) creates a portrait of a woman who reminisces about her life of attending dances and choosing a telephone company worker “who fell in love with long distance”; she wishes success and a caller for her daughter Laura and worries about her son Tom’s nightly trips to the movies. Portraying Laura, Celia Keenan-Bolger (Broadway’s “Peter and the Starcatcher”) gives a good performance as a shy girl with a slight defect and an “inferiority complex” whose preoccupation with her glass animals makes her unique. Into this journey of the mind, Tom introduces a gentleman caller (Brian J. James from SyFy channel’s “Stargate: Universe”) that comes to dinner and breaks the illusion by his presence in the apartment. Sitting in the audience at this show, I was sad to see the memory play fade back to Tom’s realization that he left behind a person whose presence haunts him. As the light disappears around him, it leaves behind a visual sure to remain with anyone who sees this show.*"The Glass Menagerie" opened September 26^th, 2013 is a 17-week limited engagement*

It has been a great month to be a fan of Broadway.  I recommend visiting TKTS Booth or the theaters for tickets to experience the power of live performances.

Sources for this blog: the Playbills for “Romeo and Juliet”, “First Date”, and “The Glass Menagerie”, Playbill.com; “The Glass Menagerie” official website: http://theglassmenageriebroadway.com/  

*Photos were taken by me and are my property