There is something about British humor that hits differently. British humor, while it can be just as juvenile as American humor, doesn’t feel the need to explain or dumb itself down. A joke may not land, but that’s fine because there’s another one. American comedies often overexplain things and feel like they are holding your hand, whereas Brit comedies just let the jokes fly, and you catch up or don’t because they are full-speed ahead.
This is a very fun movie.
A very funny movie.
The comedy has such a propulsive force that even if you don’t get a joke or two or miss one here and there, it doesn’t matter because there are a lot more to come.
TIME TRAVEL IS DANGEROUS is a mockumentary focusing on two women with a resale shop. The women are unassuming and just getting through life when they come across a strange object beside a dumpster. It looks like an old bumper car with some modifications. Intrigued, the two women return it to their shop and quickly discover it’s a time travel device. With no real interest in perusing history, the two decide that the best thing they can do with the machine is to get more stock for their shop, which they do. In no time at all, the two are pillaging the Middle Ages and several other eras for knickknacks and tchotchkes. Their pilfering doesn’t go unnoticed, though, as a local science group reaches out to the two women to implore them to stop what they’re doing before they do damage. The women agree to stop time traveling until they get in a bind with their landlord and, needing the money, can’t resist the urge to get more stock. Their trips through time have created a rift in the shop, though, and between the women, and if something isn’t done to heal both fractures, the damage will be permanent.
What an absolutely fun movie.
And it seems redundant to keep saying that, but it is.
With several familiar faces to fans of modern Brit comedy, the cast is great and has wonderful chemistry. The story is fun and brings a really great breath of fresh air to a well-worn conceit, and the use of it being a mockumentary gives the film the same energy as WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS. The cast includes a voiceover narration from Stephen Fry, Sophie Thompson, Johnny Vegas, Mark Heap, Jane Horrocks, and Tony Way.
This is a lower-budget film, so don’t expect dazzling effects, but what they have is used wonderfully and creates a fun, surreal world.
The only real ding to the film is that it loses steam toward the climax in an extended gag about a complicated card game. It’s not bad; it just grinds the movie to a halt.
Overall, I had a good time with the film and hope it finds the audience it deserves. Fans of British comedy and the absurd will love it. It has its tongue firmly in cheek and it’s one of those movies where you can tell everyone had fun making it.
The film hits UK theaters on March 28.
4 out of 5
The Spooky World of Chris Ringler 