Time after Time

In my IMDb persona, I most enjoy finding "bumblebee" movies that is, movies which on paper should have been a dud yet somehow surpassed their own limitations.

On the negative side, this is yet another creation of the Canuck movie machine, from the country that via clever tax planning and a chronically weak currency turned B-movies into a cash cow. The locations are Canadian as are most of the players, except the leads of course.

It is the plus side the ledger that is interesting. First, the movies starts and ends with a quote from Kierkegaard -- you don't see that everyday.

Second when it comes to delving into the paradoxes of time travel - something even the Star Trek franchise agonized over -- these guys had no fear. Maybe it is because they are fearless. Maybe (as with most Canuck films) they were into profit the moment shooting wrapped, so they did not care whether anyone saw ever this or not.

To say the basis for the time juxtaposition here is weak is like saying that President Obama sometimes overlooked the democratic process. There are tropes, edits, cuts, even entire scenes that make little sense.

But through it all, the cast delivers solid performances and, at the end of the day, you know this is just a very brave love story. So if you watch it with your heart and not your brain, it will engage.

In spite of itself.

This was a sweet, bit of nothing movie that won't leave any lasting marks about a journalist who quits his job after publishing an unconfirmed article about political corruption that causes the politician in question to commit suicide. "Richard" has a penchant for running away from his problems and this latest turn sees him returning to his hometown after an 11 year absence.

He is immediately hired back at his old job at the local paper where he meets a creepy, stalker dude who turns out to be his future self. Future Richard (AKA Dick) is played by Richard Thomas and the two actors couldn't look more different, but whatever, its a Lifetime movie. Anyways before long Richard also runs into his high school sweetheart and realizes the spark is still there despite her beaning him in the head with a frozen chicken and being engaged to the town Doctor (yawn).

There are some fun twists and turns as future "Dick" remains mysterious and tries to get Richard to turn his life around, stop running away and get the girl because, well, he's been there and knows how it will turn out if he doesn't. There's also a weak sub story regarding preserving the small town image and not allowing big business "Sir Save-A-Lot" in.

A couple things: Richard wears the same leather jacket/clothes for the entire movie, as do most of the cast. His wife also doesn't age in the 20 year gap we are shown. Duncan B.C plays small-town "Glenville" USA. 12/15/14

This is another warm and cozy romance movie from Hallmark, with likable characters in a beautiful small country town, good actors and a good story about a guy who left things undone with the love of his life, but return and try to fix his past mistakes.

That part is really good, but for me the thing that gets in the way is the pathetic and simplistic political speech "big chain stores are bad for small traders, let's ban them even if that is the worst possible choice for the consumers", as if it were possible prevent the progress. This speech is the only thing that annoys me and complete ruins the film for me.

I thought that this was a decent film; it was gentle, moved at a comfortable pace and gave me a warm feeling. The setting was beautiful, as you would expect of Duncan B.C. and the background score was not intrusive but assisted the atmosphere rather than distracting from it.

The actors were all good and likable characters, even the town doctor who strayed (the unethical behaviour which another reviewer mentioned) with someone who was likely a patient. Richard Thomas has always been that actor who is like the home town boy of the Waltons who we all like. He gives just enough of that boy with the angst of the man who left things undone but finally finds a way to make his biggest mistake right.

Though there are not many surprises there are a few little twists that make the plot work but basically it's a feel good film to give you the warm fuzzies on a cool day under your blankie.

I wasn't expecting too much of this film, but I have to say it really hooked me from the start and was a really enjoyable journey for 90 minutes. All the usual elements of a Hallmark movie were there - small town, local stores , local newspaper and lost romance - but the storyline and Richard Thomas gave the film a big boost. The time travel supposition was a bit weak (no, very weak !), but I'll forgive that. Nice to see a kiss not saved up for the end credits too. ! Worth a watch - go see it.