If you could go back in time and change events in your past what would you do? Tim Lake finds himself in this predicament when at the age of 21 his father pulls him aside to break the news that the men in their family can, by going into a dark place and concentrating on a specific moment in time, travel to that moment and effectively change the past. Tim decides this gift will help him save his love life from utter disaster. Loveably awkward Tim starts his experiments with time travel when his sister’s friend comes to visit for the summer. After trying many different approaches Tim makes the important realization that changing the circumstances will not make someone love you.

He moves out of his parent’s house and into London to hopefully start his law career and meet more women. After many months of being lonely he finds the girl of his dreams, Mary, at a restaurant. Once he gets home and finds his roommate wrecked, Tim knows he must travel back in time to save his roommate’s play. He does save the play, but however changes the past and does not meet Mary. Tim continues to go back in time to find her at the right moment so they will fall in love.

The story follows a good portion of Tim’s life through in laws, children, dying relatives, and a sister that is quickly spiraling downhill. He struggles to save everyone and learns he cannot go back in time before his kids were born and must choose between changing the past and continuing onto the future. The setup of the typical time travel movie is very confusing, but About Time makes the transition from past to present clear. The movie’s over all message is to focus on making the day before you meaningful because it could be your last, and afterwards leaves one wondering about the past and what changes need to be made to make the present count. About Time is a cute, but not overly sappy, romantic comedy and has a curiously thought provoking plot. I give About Time 8 out of 10.