Film review: Project Almanac (12A)

When one particular film arrives in cinemas with the hype machine firmly behind it, there will always be others that fly well under the radar.

That’s certainly the case with Project Almanac, which has endured the unenviable task of going up against the mighty Fifty Shades of Grey movie.

The travesty of this scenario is that this Dean Israelite-directed sci-fi flick, which is produced by Michael Bay (Transformers), is comfortably better than the wretched Fifty Shades film.

Quite how many people know about Project Alamanac’s existence has to be called into question, though. While I’ve never seen Boston’s West End Cinema as busy for last week’s date with Mr Grey, I was the only person in the theatre this time around – which is a shame.

That’s because Project Almanac is surprisingly good.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much when I heard it centred on a time machine.

Filmed in ‘found-footage style’, you’ll be surprised just how real the fresh cast of young characters make this engaging story feel.

The basic premise is this: Teen genius David Raskin (Jonny Weston – Taken 3) discovers plans for a time machine during his flagging quest to win a grant that will pay for his tuition to MIT.

The only reason he believes assembling the machine is actually possible is because he discovers a video of his seventh birthday among his long-since-dead dad’s belongings. The catch is, that he spots a glimpse of his current self in the mirror of the decade-old video.

Unable to keep this discovery to himself, he shows his scientifically inclined friends Quinn (Sam Lerner – Nobody Walks) and Adam (Allen Evangelista – The Secret Life of the American Teenager), as well as his camera-happy sister Christina (Virginia Gardner – Glee).

The clues eventually point to David’s basement, where they discover Project Almanac – plans for a time machine that were written (and hidden) by his dad.

It’s then trial and error, as the group bid to follow the plans and build the machine. It’s pretty cool stuff – including a scene where they dismantle Quinn’s Xbox 360 and use the parts (any of you that owned the 360 will know that the time machine probably would have suffered from the red ring of death).

But I digress. By the time they are ready to test the machine out properly, David’s long-term crush Jessie (Sofia Black-D’Elia – Skins) becomes a part of the group.

What follows is a fun period of the film, with the five using the machine with surprising reckless abandon. They do all the things you’d probably do if you had the ability to manipulate time (and were a teenager), with no major repercussions.

Things do get complicated, though, when David misses a chance to hook up with Jessie – prompting a pretty inevitable bit of time tinkering that has devastating effects for the rest of the world.

Yes, this isn’t an overly original premise. Back To The Future, The Butterfly Effect and Looper have all showcased similar stuff.

But Project Almanac is refreshing, for numerous reasons. All five of the lead characters are very down to earth and likeable. It’s great that there’s no power-driven heel turn or ridiculous jump too far back or forward, too.

It may sound odd, but it also felt pretty realistic. If a group of teens ever did come across such a machine, I imagine this is how they’d use it.

As for me, if I found Project Almanac, I’d go back a week and advise you to watch this instead of Fifty Shades.

Voice Verdict: 8/10 (watched at Boston’s West End Cinema)

+ Engaging story
+ For sci-fi, it felt quite realistic
+ Good cast of fresh faces
– Not overly original

Showtimes at West End Cinema, Boston
(Fri, Feb 27 to Thurs, March 5)

EVENT CINEMA/LIVE EVENTS

LOVE LABOURS WON (ROYAL SHAKESPERE COMPANY LIVE)
7pm (Wed)

LAURA MVULA
7.30pm (Thurs)

PEPPA PIG: THE GOLDEN BOOTS (U)
10.15am (Sat/Sun); 11.45am (Sat/Sun) 1pm(Sat/Sun)

FILMS SHOWING

**THE BOY NEXT DOOR (15)
8.45pm (daily)

**FOCUS (15)
1.30pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 4pm (daily), 6.20pm (daily) 8.45pm (daily)

**THE SECOND BEST MARIGOLD HOTEL (PG)
Noon (Sat/Sun/Wed), 2.45pm (not Mon/Tues), 5.30pm (daily), 8.15pm (daily)

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY (18)
2.45pm (not Mon/Tues), 5.45pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)

PROJECT ALMANAC (12A)
10am(Sat/Sun), 2pm (Fri/Wed/Thurs), 6.20pm (not Wed/Thurs)

SHAUN THE SHEEP (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), noon (Sat) 2.10pm (Sat/Sun), 4.15pm (daily)

BIG HERO 6 3D (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun), 2.45pm (Sat/Sun), 5.20pm (daily)

BIG HERO 6 2D (PG)
12.20pm (Sat/Sun)

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE (15)
2.40pm (Fri/Wed/Thurs), 8pm (not Wed/Thurs)

KIDS CLUB
Sat & Sun 10:30am – Tinkerbell and the Legend of the Neverbeast (U)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Jupiter Ascending 3D (15)

**free list suspended