Cert 12A
123 mins
BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language and moderate sex references
"I bet I know who chose this film,'' said the lass on the counter at Nottingham Cineworld.
I guess it did appear as if Mrs W and Miss W had ganged up on me and forced a Friday night rom com down my neck.
Regardless, I quite fancied About Time because director and writer Richard Curtis has long kept us entertained with the likes of Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones on the big screen and Blackadder and Vicar Of Dibley on TV.
And, by its finale, I had laughed out loud five times and Miss W was wiping away tears but I couldn't help pout my bottom lip and pronounce it as 'patchy.'
While About Time is very funny in parts it is a tad long and, by its very nature, repetitive.
It surrounds a young chap called Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) who has the uncanny knack of being able to go back in time just by going into a dark space and clenching his fists.
For the geeky young lawyer, this turns out to be a distinct advantage when it comes to finding the love of his life (Rachel McAdams).
But what nipping back into wardrobes can't prevent is life's major ups and downs because if he makes dramatic changes to the past then the future can become radically altered.
Gleeson is a fine choice in the lead role - a Hugh Grant-type without any of the irritations of Grant and an ability to act.
McAdams' character is a bit too goody-two-shoes for my liking but she adds a certain sparkle.
But it is the others in Tim's world which elicit the belly laughs: Bill Nighy has never been more endearing as his dad, Richard Cordery is great as his slow but well-meaning uncle and Tom Hollander is particularly spirited as his playwright landlord.
My problem is that the joke wears a bit thin and the movie lacks the surprise that Curtis's back catalogue gives us.
Sure, there is the pathos of Four Weddings and Love Actually but it doesn't quite grab in the same way.
Perhaps the lass on the till was right and, therefore, I shouldn't be the man to judge.
So, I allowed Miss W to decide its mark out of ten. She gave it 6.5 - ironically, I thought she was spot on.
Laughs: Five for me - more for others in the audience.
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 6.5/10