Henh?

rugghedd

There seem to be two reasons why some people rave about a truly dumb movie like this: 1) they're fans of the book on which it was based, so the movie completes a personal loop for them; and 2) it's a so-called "love story."

As to the first reason, someone viewing a film should not have to be familiar with the source material in order to "get" the story and enjoy the film version; a film should be able to stand or fall on its own storytelling merits. This one fails and falls with a dull thud. There is no arc to the story, which flat-lines for almost two hours of convoluted tedium, making me wonder how boring the book must be. Even when the protagonist finally dies (hey, a plot point!), the story doesn't end, because he comes back again for a quick, reassuring hug---yay!

The only points made in the film are that this guy is a time traveler and that his apparently random, Whack-a-Mole popping in and out of the time continuum is a real problem for the woman who loves him. (Gee, ya think?) The concept of time travel is not new, and therefore shouldn't require exhaustive explanation. But in most novels and films on the subject, we at least know "why" someone is able to travel through time (see "The Time Machine", or a much better time-travel/love story, "Somewhere in Time"). If this is given even the most cursory explanation in TTTW, I must've missed it. I guess the guy is a time traveler because...uh...he's a time traveler.

As to the second reason people (probably 99% of them women) seem to like this movie, apparently all it takes for a narrative to be deemed a "love story" is for two very sexy people to gaze longingly into each others' eyes and whisper sweet nothings, eventually leading to some amber-lighted lovemaking. But that's not a love story, it's the cinematic equivalent of a romance novel. (To you aspiring filmmakers: one sure-fire way to have a successful career in Hollywood is to throw together some scenes involving an extremely attractive couple exchanging meaningful looks and enjoying some cutesy playfulness---perhaps trying on goofy hats, or chasing each other in the park or at the beach, accompanied by the appropriate music---and spice it up with a little hot sex, during which the woman must be in the throes of rapturous ecstasy---he must be The One!)

I've been a writer my entire life, and I earned an Emmy nomination for a documentary I wrote and directed, so I'm no stranger to structure and narrative. I'm also a movie lover. I really enjoy a knotted plot, a dense storyline, complex characters, and/or a challenging exposition, and I also enjoy a moving, well-told love story. TTTW has none of these. After only a few minutes, I was totally confused, but I assumed that the answers to any salient questions (such as why the guy travels through time) would be revealed in due course. They weren't. Instead, we have this guy showing up naked every few minutes, at various ages, and talking to his love interest (at various ages) or to himself (at various ages) or to his parents (at various ages) or to his daughter (at various ages). And what do they talk about during these brief visits? The fact that he's a time traveler, of course! Uh-oh, story losing steam? No problem---just have the guy shed his clothes and pop up nude somewhere!

I want my two hours back...

score 1/10

rugghedd 13 February 2011

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2384958/