Time Travel Is Dangerous! (2024) - Film Review

      **Time Travel Is Dangerous!**, 2024.

      Directed by Chris Reading.

      Featuring Sophie Thompson, Johnny Vegas, Jane Horrocks, Mark Heap, Tony Way, Brian Bovell, Guy Henry, Tom Lenk, Laura Aikman, and Kiell Smith-Bynoe, narrated by Stephen Fry.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Best friends Ruth and Megan operate a vintage shop in Muswell Hill. When they accidentally find a time machine, they start making trips to the past to stock their shop, oblivious to the irreversible damage they are inflicting on the universe.

      It’s not every day that you come across an abandoned fairground dodgem car, only to learn it’s a time machine. However, **Time Travel Is Dangerous!** is far from an ordinary film. This latest creation by director Chris Reading, co-written with producers Anna-Elizabeth and Hillary Shakespeare, is a delightfully chaotic, low-budget sci-fi adventure that cleverly combines the mockumentary style of *Spinal Tap* with the surreal humor of *Time Bandits*.

      Central to this quirky journey are actual vintage shop owners Ruth Syratt and Megan Stevenson, who portray fictionalized versions of themselves. While searching for new inventory in Muswell Hill, they stumble upon the modified dodgem and quickly realize they can use it to obtain authentic vintage items from the past. However, as is typical in time-travel tales, tampering with history leads to unexpected results. Their antics attract the attention of an odd group of amateur scientists, led by Guy Henry’s hilariously authoritative Martin, who caution them about the feared Unreason, a cosmic void populated by characters voiced by Mark Heap, Jane Horrocks, and a menacing card-playing entity voiced by Brian Blessed. Soon, one of the duo finds themselves trapped in this bizarre realm, sparking an uproariously disorganized rescue mission that traverses time, space, and an array of knowingly cheap special effects.

      Narrated by the charming Stephen Fry, **Time Travel Is Dangerous!** revels in its low-fidelity style. Although its budget is small, its ambitions are grand. The film is filled with throwaway jokes, deadpan timing, and a strong supporting cast including Brian Bovell, Johnny Vegas, Tony Way, Tom Lenk, and Sophie Thompson, all of whom embrace the silliness with enthusiasm. Guy Henry stands out, perfectly embodying a power-hungry bureaucrat whose main qualification seems to be a complete absence of practical knowledge.

      What makes **Time Travel Is Dangerous!** particularly enjoyable is its unapologetic Britishness. There’s a self-aware sense of humor reminiscent of *The Office* or *Spaced*, finding humor in trivial disputes, local references, and the monotony of everyday life. Whether using a time machine to dodge gentrification or traveling back a few decades for a takeaway from a beloved old restaurant, the film's charm lies in the way it roots its most absurd concepts in reality.

      It must be noted that the film doesn’t prioritize structure or character development, and the plot unfolds in a delightfully erratic fashion. However, it is so filled with visual gags, absurdist elements, and vibrant comedic energy that this hardly matters. The fact that Syratt and Stevenson (non-actors playing themselves) manage to keep pace with a cast of experienced performers showcases their natural charisma and excellent comedic timing.

      With its low-budget creativity, nods to classic British sci-fi, and genuine affection for its characters and setting, **Time Travel Is Dangerous!** seems destined for cult classic status. It’s scrappy, silly, and thoroughly entertaining – a testament that in indie filmmaking, a great idea and a sharp script can make a significant impact.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Tom Atkinson – Follow me on Instagram