Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009) User Reviews (85)

Shaun of the Dead - But with Time Travel

[tommey91 · 7/10 · 12 September 2009]

Okay, so the acting isn't the best. Neither are the special effects. Despite this, I've been thoroughly entertained and captivated for the entirety of the last 80 minutes by an excellent plot that keeps you on your toes, genuinely excellent humour and enough confusion to keep you thinking but not to frustrate.

Unexpected twists are everywhere, but the great thing about them is that they all make sense when the movie is over, which is something some of the more recent Hollywood Sci-Fi's could take note of. It's actually a shame that one of the independent distributors with a bit more cash to burn didn't get hold of the script, I honestly think this could have been a box-office success with the right marketing.

This won't be winning any Oscars in the near future, but let's be honest; who gives a damn?

A big surprise and in a good way

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 2 August 2010]

I was not sure about this film at first. Don't get me wrong, I like comedy(when it's done right of course) especially ones from the '70s, '80s and '90s, but when it is done wrong it's awful. But I was fearing whether it would be anything like the Friedberg-Seltzer spoof movies which I hated, detested even. After seeing mixed reviews and the above average IMDb rating, I decided to give it a chance.

And I am glad I did, because I thought it was a good movie, not outstanding, but it was funny and smart even with its problems and limitations. Admittedly, Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel is low-budget, but it doesn't look completely slip-shod. The story is original and well structured, when the film started though I was like "oh dear" but as the film got going it got better, while the writing was funny, smart and tongue-in-cheek. The direction is competent, the music is good and the pacing I had little problem with either. The acting is spirited, especially with Chris O'Dowd and Marc Wooton who both show a lot of spontaneous boyish charm that make their characters appealing. I agree in some ways the characters border on stereotypical but the acting and writing is enough to not make it matter that much. Anna Farris starts off a little stiff but once she gets into the film and her role she gets better. Even the title was funny and amusing.

Overall, I liked it. It is not the best movie I have ever seen, but it was funny and smart and it was refreshing to see something that was actually funny.(Friedberg and Seltzer take notes) 8/10 Bethany Cox

Fun, witty and original

[miruleyall · 8/10 · 12 September 2009]

A great little movie about the Chaos Theory.

If you enjoy any SciFi (mainly DoCWho) you should give this little flick a watch if it ever pops up on your set.

Acting is very solid from Dowd who carries the film perfectly, the other actors keep pretty safe but Dowd really shines, Farris is ditsy as usual but is very cute and likable as a character (and a person) still.

Direction is quite minimalistic and just focuses on the chaos itself and hardly relies on modern visual effects, mainly great props and sets that set a surprisingly good atmosphere considering this is a budget movie

This little movie could have a cult following if it is received well.

8/10 -2 for been too short, but at least it leaves the possibly open for a sequel :)

A pleasant surprise!

[Gordon-11 · 15 September 2009]

This film is about three mates talking about time travel in a pub. They ended up doing some actual time travelling much to their surprise.

Most time travel films do not make sense or have serious plot holes, but this plot is great. The story is creative, clever and well written. It keeps me interested and engaged throughout the film. The three mates are authentic and unpretentious, just like real characters we meet on a daily basis. This enhances the attraction of the film, making it even more engaging.

Full length films under 80 minutes usually are bad, but "Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel" is a pleasant exception! I really enjoyed watching "Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel", and I would recommend it to my friends without hesitation.

Great fun for the grey matter.

[geoffgee · 7/10 · 24 April 2009]

There were times whilst I was watching this that I felt myself to be distinctly chronologically challenged by the implications of (people) being able to go backwards and forwards in time. Not that that detracted from my enjoyment - quite the contrary - but unravelling some of the time-logic did demand that extra bit of effort on my part. The humour varies between light and off-the-cuff banter between drinking buddies at times, to potentially grave and ominous events at others. I thought the characters were likable and the screenplay was excellent (in an 'ordinary' kind of way). Maintaining my interest was helped by the juxtaposition of the everyday with the unexpected and the inclusion of an uncertain romantic element. A nice blend of sci-fi and scepticism. Great fun for the grey matter.

Shh, do not mention Doctor Who!

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 25 September 2014]

I reckon at one point Nick Frost and Simon Pegg were considered for the lead roles with Edgar Wright mooted as a director.

However the film starts as three guys in a pub talking about time travel when one of them is fired from his job. Ray (Chris O'Dowd), Toby (Marc Wootton) and Pete (Dean Lennox Kelly) are out in the pub going through beers, crisps and moaning about life as well as talking science fiction but strangely no mention of Doctor Who.

A trip to the toilet for one of them leads to some sort of time leak where the trio go back and forth along a time-line that could lead to danger. Anna Faris plays Cassie a woman from the future whose job is to repair these time leaks.

The film is rather fun, the three leads play well together, they are not irritating and there is a mixture of comedy with some danger and drama. Faris mixes well with the trio and there is some substance with the science fiction elements of the story.

Enjoyable Brit Sci-Fi comedy...

[ajs-10 · 7/10 · 8 August 2010]

This is a British made film, actually a co-production between BBC films, Dog Lamp Films and HBO Films, but made here in the UK. I saw it mentioned last year on TV and thought it was one I would never see as it didn't make it to any of my local cinemas. But thanks to it being a BBC co-production, it aired in TV this week and I'm really glad I got to finally see it.

Three friends, Ray, Toby and Pete work at an amusement park. Ray has just been sacked from his job after making his depiction of life in the Space Corps to a bunch of kids a little bit too realistic. He is a bit of a sci-fi geek and is really into the concept of time travel. Toby, also a bit of a geek, is an aspiring writer and is always jotting down ideas in a black book he always carries with him. Pete is just an ordinary guy out with his mates. After work they decide to go to the cinema and then on to the pub. They were not impressed with the film they saw and decide to write a letter to Hollywood on the back of one of the pages from Toby's book. With glasses empty, Ray is volunteered to get a round in. He goes through to the next room where he meets Cassie, a girl who claims to be from the future. She has come back to fix a hole in time. Ray initially treats this chance meeting as a joke, but things are about to get very serious for the three friends.

Obviously made on a very small budget with most of the action centred on the pub, but nonetheless a very well made film. Quite a short film at only 83 minutes, but this, to me, was just about the right length. Decent performances all around, so honourable mentions must go out to; Chris O'Dowd as Ray, Marc Wootton as Toby, Dean Lennox Kelly as Pete, Anna Faris as Cassie and Meredith MacNeill as Millie.

As a bit of a fan of Sci-Fi I really enjoyed this film. I found it clever and witty and it put me in mind of the great British TV comedy 'Red Dwarf', although it's not set in space. A nicely written script with likable characters and not too many clichés, to me, (and I'll probably get slagged off for this) even better than 'Shaun of the Dead' (shock!).

I read that the director, Gareth Carrivick sadly died earlier this year from Leukaemia. He had worked in TV on many shows I have enjoyed over the years, particularly comedy and I think this was a good one to finish on, nice work sir! Recommended.

My score: 7.4/10

funny ,clever movie...keeps you on your toes...

[megaloni · 9/10 · 2 March 2009]

An enjoyable funny film with a well written story and several surprises which made one or two of the audience in front of me sit bolt upright. The plot is well written with considerable imagination.. and whilst the clever ones amongst you will guess what is coming next , there are a few scenes which caught my audience 'off guard'and made them jump ! I do not want to give the game away, but there are good 'time travel' loops which will amuse those of you who are not even sci-fi lovers. Both the females add glamour.. and whilst there are probably no 'Oscar' performances, the three guys are funny and well cast as 'ordinary blokes'some clever non hi-tech trick shots and surprises right up to the final credits !.. and listening to departing audience comments there were plenty of happy people leaving the theatre.

Tolerable sitcom scifi

[neil-476 · 7/10 · 1 August 2010]

This movie is essentially a feature length episode of a British TV sitcom, the only thing being that the sitcom never actually existed.

The movie is amusing rather than funny - the wry humour had me smiling most of the way through.

The film also achieves the Red Dwarf trick of mixing genuine science fiction with everyday common or garden Brits up to their everyday common or garden lives. These lives are especially common or garden, given that the majority of the action takes place in the local pub.

The three main characters are, to be frank, typical sitcom characters - broadly drawn losers - but are well played within their stereotyping. The two time-travelling women from the other side of the Atlantic don't easily sit with the overall British pub vibe, but that's not wholly a bad thing.

This is not a great film by any stretch of the imagination - it is rather a slight film - but, within its limitations, it is quite enjoyable.

An Amazing Thrill Of A Ride!

[sunshineboxi · 8/10 · 12 October 2009]

This movie is so far one of the best British comedies I've ever watched. The dialogs are funny, the story is well planned, and although you might not expect any high climax's due to it's limited production fee's, my heart was beating right out of my chest when the climax was reached!!

The character development was great, the beginning was funny and charming but I was slightly worried/put off by the beginning to think it was going to be boring, but stick with it for 5 more minutes and I'll swear you won't regret it! Anna Faris delivers a great performance as she sparks the silver screen with her natural abilities of a comedian and all the other actors such as Chris O'Dowd, Dean Lennox Kelly etc.. both interacts realistically with each other, forming brilliant chemistry.

This movie is for 'Science Fiction' lovers as well as people who are generally into space and time travel. There aren't any really mushy and romantic scenes, a mild sense of swearing, but all for the cynical outcome. DO WATCH! You might want to re-watch it again and again!

Not HA HA funny but it's all in good fun

[robertwilson-34871 · 7/10 · 30 July 2017]

With some better acting and a sharper script this movie could have been a lot better than it was.

What it is however is a fun romp through the trials and tribulations of time travel, poking good fun at its "rules" and issues. As well as classic Science Fiction in general. Sharp eyed views will see homages to "Them", "The Sound of Thunder", "Back to the Future", "Close Encounters", "Battlestar Galacticia" and others.

Confined to a pub was a nice little bit as it kept all the action bottled up into one neat package and didn't require the exploration of the outside world.

It's clever and fun.

Now for the bad news. Well you have to admire the situation and the dry British humor (it was a BBC production after all)...the movie lacks any big laughs. Or even that many small ones. In better more comedic hands this could have been laugh out loud funny.

Like I said it's clever and fun and should find an audience...but it's not "funny" and that's something a "comedy" should be.

The question is...would I watch it again or pay money to see it? Yes, yes I would. I just think with a slight sharper edge to the humor and better actors this could have been so much more.

Pokes fun at the sci-fi time travel genre

[jim921977 · 9/10 · 19 February 2019]

Plenty of reviews to read to get the gist of the movie. The movie doesn't take itself seriously and plays to its targeted audience. Yeah, I'm a bit of a nerd. I enjoyed it, reminded me a lot of Hottub Time Machine character development wise. Anna Faris's character and the time editor character give the movie its sci-fi twist. The end appears to set up a possible sequel. Who knows. Hottub Time Machine 2 also did the same thing. A bit of movie trivia, even though the first Back to the Future movie appears to set up a future movie, that wasn't the intent.

More fun than I expected

[prd-10 · 7/10 · 2 August 2010]

I recall that when this came out last year, it got decidedly mediocre reviews, but I thought I'd give it a try when it turned up on TV last night. A lot more fun than I expected. The writer had a sure understanding of the genre - the written genre, not the usual film or TV genre. It didn't rely on blockbuster special effects. It was plot driven, and although not a stunningly original plot, they handled it well. OK, they couldn't really decide how to end it, and the final scenes got a bit silly (or sillier) but it worked up to them finally leaving the pub.

I could see this as a short story in a British SF anthology.

Disappointing

[lists-9 · 4/10 · 25 October 2009]

Three disaffected thirtyish men go for a drink in a pub and have a night to remember. After one of them has a chance meeting with a strange girl and another has a mind-bending experience on using the toilet, all three find they have travelled in time and inadvertently changed the future.

The film borrows freely from science fiction films, TV and fiction (The Terminator, Doctor Who and Ray Bradbury's story A Sound of Thunder are among its more obvious influences). The premise is unusual for a comedy and the start of the film seems promising but, after its first half hour, it quickly becomes tedious. I laughed only once or twice in the whole film.

The characters are just not as endearing as they're meant to be and the plot meanders, lacking the excitement of The Terminator and the appeal of Doctor Who. The writer seems uncertain of where to take the story and throws in various gimmicks which seem to go nowhere. I just didn't find it a satisfying story. In any science fiction or fantasy story, "suspension of disbelief" is vital, but the storyline for me just wasn't credible.

After some impressive effects in the opening scene, the rest of the film's relatively few special effects look cheap and feel as if they don't quite belong to the same film. Despite its short running time, it seemed quite long to me - never a good feeling.

I don't understand the criticisms of this film

[MagikGimp · 2 August 2010]

FAQsATT was panned recently in Radio Times when it was shown for the first time on terrestrial TV and I don't understand why. Maybe it's because I emphasise a bit with the main characters, perhaps it was just because I was excited to turn on the TV and see a reasonably famous Hollywood star in a small-time British film but whatever the reason was I found myself thoroughly entertained. A lot of people have been saying that Anna Faris is uncomfortable in this but I didn't feel that at all; I expect she enjoyed doing something completely different to what she's used to. Meredith MacNeill too has be described as awkward and such but she's playing a character who's completely barmy and I think she expressed that well. Yes the special effects are not the best but they're not terrible. For a sci-fi (sorry, Speculative Fiction!) film there aren't many of them and rather there's more focus on dialogue and antics between the cast but I think that works; the effects are not overly distracting and the post-nuclear city I though actually looked really good. I've given this 7/10 because some things could have been tidied up and the script is not perfect. Also, there are mistakes and perhaps a slightly larger budget wouldn't have hurt. All in all I enjoyed this immensely for whatever reason and that's all that matters to me.

O'Dowd drives

[Polaris_DiB · 7/10 · 27 August 2010]

I am an unapologetic fanboy of all things time travel, so this movie is pretty much written and directed for people just like me. Chris O'Dowd, the guy who plays Roy from the hilarious television series The IT Crowd, leads as Ray, a recently fired entertainment park worker who, depressed from his bad day, goes with his two coworker friends to pub to sit and debate his favorite topic: time travel. Lo and behold, in short order things start getting awkward as a time traveller named Cassie (played by Anna Faris) appears, and then an actual time travel hole is found in none other than the pisser, from which comedy and paradox ensues.

Any fresh perspective on time travel here? Not really. But from there, you get O'Dowd's lovable nerdiness and fascination as Ray, along with his cute romance with Cassie, as his friends much more begrudgingly try to hold on to their senses and figure the whole conundrum out. Best is Pete, the cynic nonbeliever who, as some sort of cosmic joke, ends up getting the worst of the travelling and becomes a paranoid survivalist. Allusions to other time travel movies are everywhere, including probably my favorite, a moment when the three discover that they are going to be important and famous historical figures, and trying to figure out what they will do to deserve it, one says, "Maybe we start a band..." and then the three of them think about it and decide that's ridiculous.

What really goes for this movie in the long run is O'Dowd's character's utter wide-eyed excitement and dedication to experiencing this thing that he's dreamed so much about, and how it ultimately drives along all of the characters as they tag along for the ride. It's a fantasy fulfillment movie for the nerd in all of us who just wants to see what the future's like, giant murderous ants or no, and O'Dowd is particularly good for the role because he is sort of like the Michael Cera form of humor where the actor probably has more familiarity with the character than just acting, and is relatable on that level. His role here, in the IT Crowd, and in The Boat that Rocked are all essentially the same, but that character is the always relatable underdog who, whether self-conscious or no, loves what he loves and wants to share it with other people.

However, I do not believe "Imagineers" is going to stick.

--PolarisDiB

British sitcom drama

[Rob-O-Cop · 6/10 · 5 October 2009]

a pleasantly entertaining British sitcom drama style event. Nothing too spectacular but a pleasant enough way to pass the time. Anna Farris is jarringly wooden against the British cast members as is Canadian Meredith MacNeill. I don't know why any non British were present in a British set drama but there presence came across as token, perhaps placed to get an American market and then the whole slippery slop of dumbing down the content raises its ugly head. This could have been more edgy, and I've just guessed why it wasn't.

Chris O'Dowd plays himself, again, but luckily he's always worth a watch. He's got a great delivery which I'm not tired of yet having watched him in IT Crowd and FM.

When it comes to time travel ,there are very few good movies..this is one among them

[hitman596 · 7/10 · 2 January 2013]

There are very few movies on time travel and very few which are worth watching among them,if you are into sci-fi you will really really like this movie!,you do not have to be exceptionally clever(but not exceptionally dumb) to understand this movie

Plot:7.5/10

Funny?: Yes ,some scenes will give you a good laugh

What's different about it: The plot keeps you interested in the movie until the end..this the movie does without any great special effects and nudity :D..

Worth Watching?:yes!

Shaun of the Dead for sci-fi fans....

[Rob_Taylor · 8/10 · 31 December 2009]

At least, that's what it struck me as. Not plagiarism, mind, just a treatment whereby ordinary blokes find humour in a difficult situation. In SotD, it was a zombie apocalypse. Here we have our heroes thrust into a time travel conundrum.

And the script is well-written. The trio of heroes get glimpses of events in their futures which make little sense initially, only coming clear as those events unfold for real. It's quite cleverly done, in fact.

The cast are not what you'd call well known. Anna Faris is by the far the most accomplished to date but this does not detract, only enhances the movie.

It's a low budget production, but for all that, it delivers what it promises - humour and laughs - the whole way through. I suspect rather like SotD the particularly Britishness of the humour might not travel well across the Atlantic, but who knows.

At the cinema it did rather poorly thanks to an almost complete lack of marketing and publicity. No one knew what the Hell it was about or who was in it. This is a real shame, because the movie deserves far more recognition than it has received. For example, this is probably only the fifteenth review of the movie, written in December, for a movie released in April the same year. Go figure.

In any event, if you liked SotD, you should like this. It's not as funny, but it doesn't get tedious and it keeps you smiling all the way through. Worth your time if you can find it.

Enjoyable science fiction comedy

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 5 November 2012]

Opening like a science fiction film with poor special effects we are introduced to protagonist Ray; it looks like he is about to lead an assault on some alien planet... in fact he is terrifying a group of children on a theme park ride! Not surprisingly he is given the sack. Later he goes to the pub with his friends Pete and Toby. Here strange things start to happen although Ray doesn't realise it at first; he is obsessed with time travel so when he bumps into Cassie, a woman claiming to be from the future, he naturally assumes his friends put her up to it. It becomes clear that something is really wrong when Pete returns from the toilet and finds himself in the future... a rather disturbing future where everybody in the pub, including a bearded version of himself, is dead! He retraces his steps and manages to get back to where his own time and tells the others... naturally they don't believe him so they all go to the toilets and repeat his actions; this time they end up half an hour in the past... He talks to Cassie again telling her that he believes her and she says she can fix the problem. Before the night is out they will travel to several different time periods, become globally famous, and confront somebody who is determined to kill them!.

While this short low budget film is by no means a classic it is a lot of fun. It plays with the genre tropes without mocking them... the creators clearly know it will be science fiction fans that watch this so don't want to insult them! There are plenty of nods to other sci-fi films and stories that should give fans a knowing smile. Not all the laughs require knowledge of the genre... you don't need to be a sci-fi buff to laugh as Peter sings 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' while going to the toilet! While it was obviously made on a low budget and the effects are a bit ropey it is still worth watching as the cast do a good job with the material and the story is actually quite good. If you just want a laugh this is well worth watching and if you are a science fiction fan wanting a laugh it would be a shame to miss it.

Awesome, clever, funny film.

[AshleyBirtwell · 9/10 · 25 September 2009]

I'd first like to mention that I am not any of peoples involved in this film family, or friend. Just to clear that for Globalist.

I thought this film was pure gold. I thought the Actors did a superb job at playing the roles of their characters. They where witty and believable. Not once did I feel like they were just reading from the script, not once.

I love Chris O'Dowd in IT Crowd, and I loved Dean Kelly in Shameless. I haven't seen Marc Wootton in anything, but I thought he delivered his part very well.

I was laughing quite hard during some scenes. Maybe it's just my kind of humour, but I loved the Total Eclispe of Heart bathroom soon. I wondered if it could get any better after Pete doing it on his own, and yes it did when all 3 did it! The plot was really good too. It all seemed to flow well, and they didn't seem to be any major plot holes. It could get a little confusing to some people though. Like Pete still ran into the bathroom after he heard the glass knock over onto the paper, so how come he travelled through time still when he ran back in? Well I suppose he went back to present time, which makes sense.

Anyway, I thought this film was brilliant although short, and I would recommend it anybody.

Some good sci-fi fun.

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 28 January 2020]

I wanted to watch a sci-fi comedy and that's exactly what I got with Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel. The humor in this British movie is simple but effective, I had my share of laughs so I can't complain. The story couldn't be more sci-fi, time travelling is a good subject to create a good story as you have many options where to go to, and it created also some good comical scenes between the three main characters played by Chris O'Dowd, Marc Wootton and Dean Lennox Kelly. The acting isn't award winning but good enough for these kind of movies. The special effects are lame though, don't expect anything fancy, but than again it's not really necessary in this movie, the story and the comedy are enough to keep you entertained.

Paradoxically - or not so much - The Budget

[breno_bacci · 10/10 · 5 July 2010]

I've read a couple of reviews here before, and all of them after watching the movie. All the favourable ones I pretty much agree with, even though such reviewers often rated the movie a couple of stars below me. All unfavourable reviews I disagree with, and most likely also have a different approach to Cinema than that of their authors.

Give me movies with flaws, but a heart, every day of the week. Gladiator and Titanic might be flawless - or close to that - on some technical points of view, but I'd never characterise such movies as being "humane". FAQATT isn't perfect, but it's perfectly humane and has a heart, hence the 10.

O'Dowd cracks me up just for being himself. I don't recall seeing his two friends (the character's, that is) in any other movie, but they were anything but unlikeable. I liked Faris on "House Bunny", so I may be a bit biased when it comes to her filmography.

First I thought I shouldn't mention the fact that it's a low-budget movie, since I believe that's one thing low-budget movies don't want to bring the focus to: the budget. But then again, the writer did so right in the beginning of the movie, so I think it's OK (not really a spoiler if it happens in the first couple of minutes, isn't it?).

Anyways, if you're in doubt about watching this movie, I recommend you do. I did not vote 10/10 as a joke. I plan to buy this movie whenever I can just to show the people involved my appreciation. I believe the director is "not longer with us", so I hope someday I get to thank him in person (or in any other form) for this great movie.

Kudos to everyone involved. As long as there are low-budget movies like this, I can walk through big multiplex theaters knowing that the end is not near.

I like the idea and concept of this movie

[osj2507 · 6/10 · 5 January 2016]

The delivery of that wasn't all that though. What always work for these British comedies are the humor part and the small games and plays they make, so if you like British sitcoms or films like Shaun of the dead this is a good one for you.

It has some great fun moments, but it doesn't really stick together and the wide open ending really didn't do it for me, they could have ended it by them just strolling nice and easy down the road.

I guess I would have wanted more, not that it could or should explain the conundrum that time travel, or parallel universes might have/hold or the paradoxes of it all (well it kind of gives a few obvious hints of those), but it could have been more.

I wish i could travel back in time and get my 70mins back!

[rauh-georg · 3/10 · 23 December 2009]

I got this movie based on the good rating here on IMDb.

What followed was one of the worst 70 minutes of my life. How someone can rate this flick 7, 8 or 9 is beyond me.

This movie is basically 70mins of three pretty dumb brits talking about time travel paradoxes, with the majority of the movie playing in the pub plus a few outside shots.

This movie seems like a ultra-low budget movie which FAILS in many aspects.

) It is not funny at all. I got this assuming it is a "witty" comedy. Maybe i just don't understand British humor (excuse me: "humoUr"), but there was really nothing funny about it, except you think that three nerdish brits (British nerds?) in a pub talking about time travel is a funny thing.

) Needless to say it didn't satisfy in the "Science Fiction" area either...and FAR from "keeps you on the edge of your seat". For crying out lout, what about that movie keeps you on the edge of your seat? I started twitching about 40mins into the movie with a strong desire to turn it off and watch something else. Sadly, i watched it all the way through.

The best thing is, when you actually think that the movie might become interesting..it is OVER. It is over after a "staggering" short 70mins.

I give this movie a 3 for "good attempt" and "odd British humour weirdness"...but i am still trying to find that time-rift in my own bathroom, to go and get my wasted time back.

Don't get me wrong, i love British humour, there is lots out there which is great...but this one was just a really, really DUMB movie.