Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox

I just saw this film at cinequest film festival. It is a fast-paced movie with lots of laughs and interesting scientific talk too if you follow the discussion about the paradox. There is lot of killing in this film but it is done in an interesting manner and not just gratuitous. The effects of buildings exploding and the universe dividing are really well done and enhance the enjoyability of the film. The main actor, Samuel Dunning, did an amazing job playing more multiple roles than one can count. We had the filmmaker there and he let us know this was all done on an amazingly low budget and in an unbelievably short time.

A truly enjoyable movie, that keeps you off balance (and seriously amused) from the very start, because it is difficult to anticipate moment-to-moment. The main scientist character is unusual and gets explored in ways one wouldn't get to explore if it were not for there being so many of him. Sometimes time-travel/multi-universe stuff can be irritating, but not so here, maybe because it is not a tool to achieve something but the thing that is attempted to be understood, and that keeps the mystery and plot going, all the while you can't decide whether you are rooting for the mad scientist(s) to succeed or to be stopped.

Tim Travers is what I like to call a beer movie. Have a beer or two, or a whiskey, or your chill-out of choice, sit down, and let yourself laugh. Don't overthink it. The science quoted is cutting edge, but the plot is a deliberate call back to late 20th century camp and cult.

Sam Dunning delivers a surprisingly nuanced performance for a man who is playing opposite himself much of the time. It is completely believable, a la Eddie Valiant in Roger Rabbit. I was surprised that despite the entirely similar wardrobe (there are differences) and minimal visual changes, I could typically figure out which Tim was on screen by facial expression and small tics given to each version. The only flaw in this film is that Tim's redemption arc is subtle, and the two key scenes could be missed or misread (especially if you've had an extra beer to go with your beer movie.) However, Sam's Tim absolutely delivers the sort of redemption one can believe for a fundamentally self-absorbed man who can't stop himself from catering a bit too much to himself.

While Tim himself is funny (if for all the wrong reasons -- enjoy them) the supporting cast, even one-scene wonders and tough-guy Danny Trejo, deliver surprisingly good laughs. Especially when the film takes the time to show where reality, not movie logic, starts setting in for some folks and they try to tap out only to be sucked back in because you can't unknow things.

The movie does go on a bit long, and I'm never a Felica Day fan. That said, the movie keeps up the pace by taking everything at an almost caffeinated pace. I also feel that many women will appreciate the Deliah character because of how relatable her arc is -- seeing a man who could be something great, but just chooses to instead lean into everything that makes him hard to like. I love that this film doesn't somehow force a romance, but instead lets Deliah give a realistic portrayal of a disgusted woman.

Lots of easter eggs for those of us who grew up on 80s and 90s films. I don't always like that (it can feel too cheap an attempt at nostalgia) but all of them were played note-perfect and with the sort of nods and cues in the film that tell the audience that is was absolutely on purpose and meant as homage or parody.

Is it the stuff of camp and cult legend? I have no idea. Time will tell. But if your Friday night gang can appreciate a rude joke and has ever descended into absurdity, this is a solid choice for movie night.

It's obvious to me now that all the 10 star reviews are quite suspect and clearly from an alternate reality. Even being generous, you couldn't ever give this film more than about an 8 out of 10. So fanboys or paid shills? Who knows.

There isn't much need to go into details since other negative reviewers have covered things well enough, so I'll just say that they are pretty much spot on. Oh well.

Apparently going back in time and killing your younger self _doesn't_ wipe you out of existence but breaks something fundamental about the nature of reality. I learned this while attending a screening at deadCenter Film Festival 24. Once freed from the constraints of The Paradox, Tim proceeds to use the time machine as more of a Tim Travers factory, producing many Tim Travers who each attempt to forge their own path with their own new experiences. This is confusing and disrupting to everyone else and indeed to reality itself which proceeds to become more and more chaotic. It was a crazy ride which I quite enjoyed.