Available to stream in select Geo-Locations
Time Travel Is Dangerous takes far too long to find its rhythm. While the second half finally clicks into gear, the weak opening leaves the film struggling to recover. Even after an attempted second watch, I found writer-director Chris Reading’s film isn’t sure what it wants to be: a comedy of errors about two shop owners, or something else entirely.
The setup borrows from better-known sci-fi sitcoms—whether a V: The Series style premise or a nod to Tom Baker-era Doctor Who—but the early pacing is uneven. The fun begins when the story hints at H. G. Wells’ The Time Machine, creating a curious blend of sci-fi farce and nostalgic homage, though the film never fully settles.
The story follows Ruth (Ruth Syratt) and Megan (Megan Stevenson), shop owners in Muswell Hill who secretly use the time machine to gather items from the past. No one questions their attire or actions, which is amusing if implausible. The concept is clever—especially for fans of authentic cosplay or period dress—but it rarely lands. Nostalgia works in small doses, yet the humour often feels dated or undercooked.
Stephen Fry’s narration elevates the project, giving it polish the script alone can’t achieve. He delivers that HGTTG nuance well. Reading and co-writers Anna Elizabeth Shakespeare and Hillary Shakespeare clearly aim to capture the spirit of Time Bandits, but the pacing and delivery miss the mark. Compared to stronger genre comedies—Red Dwarf, Hyperdrive, even Spaced—the film feels like it’s still searching for a personality until the focus changes.
The mockumentary framing creates distance, making it hard to invest in the girls. Syratt and Stevenson, while earnest, lack the comedic spark to carry the film, leaving the supporting cast to shoulder much of the weight. Side notes about other “great” inventors—like Max Little with his razors or Alex Lemin and his invisibility overgarment—add whimsy but feel like filler rather than plot.
When the story finally shifts in the second half, the energy improves. Ralph (Brian Bovell), the hapless inventor of the time machine, brings much-needed humour and self-awareness. I had to laugh when he revealed he simply tossed his invention into a dumpster. His story arc delivers the playful, absurdist edge this film is aiming for. Had the narrative focused on him from the start, the film might have had a stronger shot at success.
Ultimately, this movie never fully recovers. Despite a few amusing flourishes, it remains a sluggish, uneven comedy that fails to hit even a modest “two laughs minimum.” For a British comedy night in, you’d be better off revisiting Hot Fuzz or Four Lions.
3 Stars out of 5
Time Travel is Dangerous Movie Trailer
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