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 discover a time machine, they begin traveling to the past to gather items for their store, unaware of the irreversible harm they are inflicting on the fabric of reality.

      It's not common to find a discarded fairground dodgem car and learn it’s a time machine. However, Time Travel Is Dangerous is far from an ordinary film. The latest project from director Chris Reading, co-written with producers Anna-Elizabeth and Hillary Shakespeare, is a wonderfully chaotic, low-budget sci-fi adventure that happily merges the mockumentary style of Spinal Tap with the surreal oddness of Time Bandits.

      At the center of this quirky tale 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 encounter the modified dodgem and quickly understand it can be used to steal vintage treasures from the past. However, like all good time-travel narratives, tampering with history leads to unforeseen repercussions. Their adventures capture the attention of a strange society of amateur scientists—led by Guy Henry’s amusingly authoritative Martin—who caution them about the fearsome Unreason, a cosmic void inhabited by characters played by Mark Heap, Jane Horrocks, and a menacing, card-playing being voiced by Brian Blessed. Before long, one of the duo finds themselves ensnared in this bizarre realm, sparking a hilariously chaotic rescue mission that traverses time, space, and a variety of intentionally low-budget special effects.

      Narrated by the delightfully engaging Stephen Fry, Time Travel Is Dangerous embraces its low-fi style. While its budget may be limited, its aspirations are grand. The film brims with throwaway jokes, deadpan comic timing, and an impressive ensemble cast, including Brian Bovell, Johnny Vegas, Tony Way, Tom Lenk, and Sophie Thompson, all of whom dive into the absurdity with admirable enthusiasm. Particularly notable is Henry, who embodies the essence of a power-hungry bureaucrat, whose main qualification for leadership seems to be a complete absence of practical know-how.

      What makes Time Travel Is Dangerous so delightful is its unabashed Britishness. The humor is self-aware, reminiscent of series like The Office or Spaced, finding joy in minor disagreements, local references, and the mundane aspects of daily life. Whether it’s using a time machine to sidestep gentrification or traveling back a few decades for takeout from a long-closed favorite eatery, the film’s appeal lies in how it situates its most absurd ideas within a realistic context.

      While it may not prioritize structure or character development, the plot unfolds in a charmingly haphazard way. Yet it is so filled with visual gags, absurdist elements, and vibrant comic energy that such concerns become secondary. The fact that Syratt and Stevenson (non-actors playing themselves) can hold their own against a cast of experienced actors highlights their natural charm and impeccable comedic timing.

      With its inventive low-budget approach, clever nods to classic British sci-fi, and genuine affection for its characters and setting, Time Travel Is Dangerous seems poised for cult status. It’s rugged, silly, and thoroughly enjoyable—demonstrating that in indie filmmaking, a strong concept and a sharp script can make a significant impact.

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

      Tom Atkinson – Follow me on Instagram