Another Time

Greetings again from the darkness. Dating back to H.G. Wells' 1895 book and 1960 film THE TIME MACHINE, time travel has long been a favorite and familiar trope for filmmakers and writers. It's been a central topic for comedies (BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE, HOT TUB TIME MACHINE), science fiction (LOOPER, INTERSTELLAR), oddities (PLANET OF THE APES, DONNIE DARKO), adventures (BACK TO THE FUTURE, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS), and romance (SOMEWHERE IN TIME, ABOUT TIME).

Since time travel has crossed many genres, it only makes sense that a filmmaker looking to tackle the topic would understand something new must be brought to the party, if a new project can hope to have any appeal. Director/writer Thomas Hennessy and co-writer Scott Kennard attempt to blend romance with a dose of science and philosophy, but unfortunately, even as a low budge B-movie, it just comes across as a lackluster effort with a too-simple script. I'm not familiar with director Hennessy's TV work on "Bugmashers" and "Ten for the Chairman", but his background as a cinematographer should have at least resulted in a more visually impactful film.

Justin Hartley ("This is Us") stars as Eric Lazifer, a successful Account Manager who saves his money, watches science shows on TV, and is easily "bored" by the married women who hit on him in bars. So, Eric is a fiscally conservative Brainiac who looks like a male model ... clearly a rough way to go through life. Eric's best bud Kal (James Kyson) serves as the comic relief, and is one of the few who bring some energy to their role. A recent company acquisition has Eric's boss (Mark Valley) mandating he iron out the details with that firm's leader Julia, played by Crishell Stause (Mr. Hartley's real life wife).

It's pretty easy to see where this is headed. Eric falls hard for Julia. However, she fails to swoon for his ice cream-philosophy-romance recipe since she is already engaged to a great guy. So Eric does what any guy would do ... he tracks down disgraced Physics professor Dr Joseph Goyer (Alan Pietruszewski) so that Eric can travel back in time to meet Julia before she connects with her fiancé. It's a solid and logical plan with very little chance for something to go wrong (!). If the story was ever on track, it's here that it really flies off the rails. Watching Eric assist the Physics expert with solving unsolvable equations is just a bit too much.

On the bright side, this segment allows Eric to meet a bartender named Ally, played by Arielle Kebbell. Ms. Kebbell definitely brings a welcome screen presence to this otherwise uninspired project. The soap opera look and feel likely relegate this one to the world of streaming, where, if it's lucky, it might find some time travel obsessed viewers.

Slow start, fast ending.. This is pure romantic drama and has nothing to do with Science Fiction nor Fantasy.

Quote from the movie: "Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it"

At times vocals are very poor. One can be heard and the other is either not miked up properly or mumbling. Spoils it, Bit of a laboured film.

I really like Justin Hartley and Arielle Kebbel and after seeing the trailer I expected so much more. The movie really isn't a love story and was boring. I kept expecting the tempo of the movie to speed up and the ending was not very satisfying. I am glad I was able to watch for free, I would be upset if I had paid to see it!

Judging from the IMDb rating and a few user comments, it seems I enjoyed this movie more than most. Maybe it is because I am a scientist? The middle of the movie contains quite a lot of science jargon and discussions of what might be the mechanism to travel back in time. Although that will likely remain impossible forever it is fun to see how it is discussed.

The main character is Justin Hartley as Eric Laziter, a financial professional who seems to be very good at his job. His firm is in the process of buying out a smaller firm and he needs to spend time with the owner to effect a proper transfer. She is smart and pretty and kind and as they spend time together they begin to be romantically attracted to each other.

Big issue! She is recently engaged to her boyfriend of five years and seems very happy with him. But Eric is sure, if he could have met her right before her boyfriend does then he can short-circuit that and have her for himself.

There is a lot of time with a retired Physicist who was on the verge, a few years earlier, of solving the time-travel mechanism. Eric looks him up in Arizona, they work hard on the equations. Ultimately the story is less about time travel and more about finding out what excites you about life. More than just going through the motions and earning a high six figures salary. And maybe, just maybe, the girl he thinks is best for him might not be the one.

My wife and I watched it at home on Amazon streaming movies.