Allan Watched "We Live In Time"
Funny, crushing, and flooded with charm, We Live In Time is as watchable as it is heartbreaking.
Gut Feeling
Let’s set the scene: I have not seen a movie in theaters since my daughter was born almost 15 months ago and I have a day off from work to spend at the cinema. Should I see the new Venom movie? Maybe Saturday Night?
“Oh look, that new Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh film is playing. Google says it is a romantic comedy, I’m sure it will be fun!” Cut to me, 70 minutes into a beautiful film about parenthood, life’s passions, and grief, sobbing along with the other two solo moviegoers as we try to handle the resounding gut punches we are constantly served in the third act of We Live In Time.
Overall, even if the movie has flaws and borders on the cliche early on, the most important part of any story is how it makes you feel. It is impossible to not be wrapped up in the love and torture of this family, and it is a film that will resonate with me for a very long time.
Star Power
Early in the film I was grappling with if this was written for Pugh and Garfield, or just the perfect project for the pair of stars. Their mastery of these characters was essential in keeping you invested in the non-linear, if not sometimes repetitive, first hour of the film, and their public personas are very present in Tobias (Garfield) and Almut (Pugh). Their likability and execution of the unhinged silliness that occurs makes the bouncing around bearable, and although the jumping journey from their “Meet Cute” through the different steps of their relationship in the first hour did not always feel necessary, the character studies are worth the time.
Eventually, though, the storytelling method becomes extremely effective, dealing gut punch after gut punch as it drives towards its beautiful conclusion. It is the final parts of the journey where Pugh’s performance goes from “fun and sweet” to award worthy and extremely memorable. Her handling of Almut’s internal conflict of her illness, her career as a chef, and her family is the lasting part of We Live In Time.
Garfield’s portrayal of Tobias, the quirky, desperate-for-love wanderer, does get muted as things get more serious. He rises to the occasion in the loudest and funniest moments, and he is an excellent crier, but in reality he is not the star of this film. I could see someone else as Tobias, but no one else as Almut.
Two Films In One
The one issue I have not resolved with We Live In Time is how different the final act feels compared to the rest of the “RomCom-But-With-Cancer”. Nothing novel is really examined early in the film, but it is still a lot of fun and the stakes are laid out clearly.
Then you have the fury of humanity and pain Pugh brings to the conclusion, which felt better and more realized than the sum of the movie’s parts. Early on you feel like you are watching Pugh and Garfield in an acting class, but in the end Almut feels unique, while Tobias is just Garfield with more tears.
A Play On Film
We Live In Time certainly feels like an award winning West End play, and that is for good reason, as it was written by West End-staple Nick Payne. Payne did leverage the power of filmmaking when writing one of the funnier meet-cutes you will see, as well as the greatest birthing scene of all time, both of which would be impossible to pull off on the boards, but the rest of the film is good solid drama fit for the stage. His minor characters fit neatly in their quick appearances, but this was a story written about the journey of two people in a relationship, and when a topic that simple is done brilliantly, it is a joy no matter how it is staged.
Random Thoughts
This is not a comedy! Do not make the same mistake I made. This is the first time I have ever cried in a movie theater, and did I ever sob. Funny moments, but yeah, not a comedy. Woof.
This is the hardest I’ve ever cried watching a movie, with Ordinary People right up at the top along with it. Of course there is always Terms of Endearment and P.S. I Love You, but those movies were written with the sole intent to make you cry, which is just mean to do.
I have been asked how I did not know this was a sad movie. My answer is I did see them doing press, but it’s hard to listen when you are drunk on their British charm. Also Garfield has spoken about his mother a lot in the past, so I didn’t piece it together when he mentioned it during press. The Elmo conversation maybe should have been I sign, but listen, I didn’t know!
Instead of a “Romantic Comedy” I think the better description would be “Terms of Endearment meets Top Chef”.
Andrew Garfield sadly eating biscuits with tea in the tub was high art.
There is no overselling the birthing scene. Funny and beautiful and totally unhinged.
It is hard to see Andrew Garfield in an old school diner and not be swept into thoughts of Tick, Tick… Boom!.
I am sure most people will find this film gut wrenching, but as a first time dad it was particularly brutal. I can hardly type about it without tearing up.
On the lighter side, this movie is equal opportunity in terms of nudity, so enjoy the Garfield bum!
Quick Hits
How many times have I seen this movie?
Once, and I don’t know if I will be able to stomach a second viewing any time soon.
Where was I watching it?
In a theater for the first time since I saw Barbie. I had a beautiful large diet root beer and a popcorn bucket that was mostly filled with my tears.
Favorite trivia about the movie
Benedict Cumberbatch is an EP of the movie, and I have to imagine watching him cry would make anyone cry.
Favorite part
Birth scene. Not even close. Just top-quality British humor and heart in that scene.
Least favorite part
A little too much repetition early on for a non-linear film for my liking.
Would I recommend this movie?
Yes, but with a large warning sign reminding you this is not a comedy.
So What Does Allan Give It?
One Gold Thumbs Up! Overall, a score of 89. Funny, sad, well acted, and every bit as good as you’d expect it to be considering its stars.
