by Charles Kirkland, Jr.
Oscar nominees Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield play a couple trying to figure out how to make the most of their time in We Live In Time.
Since their first encounter, a bizarre car accident, Almut, and Tobias have rarely had a dull moment. When Almut is given a sobering medical diagnosis and options for treatment that may or may not prove effective, she and Tobias have to come to grips with the status of their relationship and how to move forward in the time that they have.
We Live In Time is written by Nick Payne (The Last Letter From Your Lover). The movie stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. It is directed by two-time BAFTA winner John Crowley (Brooklyn, Boy A, The Goldfinch).
Once and future Marvel superheroes, Garfield and Pugh are also both Oscar nominees. Their skill in acting is evident in the film. Garfield has a “cry” face that is exquisitely powerful. We have seen it in The Amazing Spider-Man and Garfield revisits it here. Unlike the meme that Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man cry face has become, Garfield emotes much more genuinely and realistically, being grounded and heartbreaking at the same time. Pugh is equally powerful in her performance as a driven, competitive chef who struggles with her legacy and the legacy of those before her and tries to balance a relationship with a career.
We Live in Time is a creative romantic comedy that alternates between three distinct chronologies, the current time, the time that they met, and the time before the birth of their child. Each timeline shares the story of the couple in a way that allows the audience to grasp the things of importance to Almut (Pugh) and Tobias (Garfield) both individually and corporately.
The random and almost unpredictable time-shift gimmick is the glue that holds the film together. It is a smart and necessary accent to a love story that is a little predictable in itself. On the scale of British romantic comedies, the story is a little mediocre in its development but trying to keep track of the timelines in the movie makes it interesting and keeps viewers engaged.
The big problem with the movie is the nature of the romance. While Pugh and Garfield are immensely cute on the screen together, the relationship between them seems a tad disingenuous. We can feel the love of Tobias but Almut’s feels forced and insincere. The script calls for this, but Almut’s emotions are so reserved that they don’t allow the audience to connect with the couple or connect with the couple themselves. Sadly, there should be more of a legacy than how to crack an egg.
Rated R for language, sexuality, and nudity, We Live In Time is a modern-day romantic comedy where the woman takes center stage and the world revolves around her. It is tender and heart-breaking but at the same time, it is uninteresting. The gimmick saves it though, making it feel better than it is.
We Live In Time is in theaters starting October 18, 2024.
Grade: C-