Time Travel Is Dangerous

Time Travel is Dangerous is a muddled mockumentary that provides a share of laughs thanks to a cast of British comedy veterans but drags thanks to a confusing and undisciplined story without an aim.

Ruth (Ruth Syratt) and Megan (Megan Stevenson) are best friends who run a vintage shop in London.

Upon discovering a discarded time machine, they identify a chance to fill their store with the wonders of the past, present and future. But their ventures into time threaten the fabric of the universe itself. It is down to former friends and co-presenters Ralph (Brian Bovell) and Robert (Johnny Vegas) to track the time machine down.

It is a shame that Time Travel is Dangerous veers of course to the degree it manages to, as its concept is a strong one that is ripe for an impressive cast to have fun with. A rogue pair of London thrifters running amok in space-time is a great sell, and Ruth Syratt and Megan Stevenson’s synonymous co-leads make for an enjoyable pair of protagonists. Johnny Vegas’ as a down-on-his-luck but highly competent scientist is the kind of subversive role that adds some much-needed range to an ageless career. And add in a ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide…’-esque voiceover from Stephen Fry, and this should make for a solid-at-worst comedy feature.

And whilst there are some great laughs and great lines, unfortunately the ill-thought-out sci-fi elements become a serious distraction that drags the story of course. What starts as a fantastic but relatively straightforward set-up ends up in an overstuffed mess once the universal threat dynamics of the story are introduced. Fry’s voiceover is not the only reason that ‘Hitchhiker’s…’ comes to mind, but Time Travel is Dangerous lacks any of the requisite charm or intelligence that permits the nonsensical story of Douglas Adams’ classic to work. Even the film’s basic structure is all over the place, beginning with a strong mockumentary framing which is abandoned at a whim where the story does not require it – as is Fry’s voiceover which is much-missed when it goes missing for large chunks.

None of this is to say the film is terrible. It is at its best when lovingly and very ‘Britishly’ lampooning time-travel/sci-fi concepts. The props and set design have shades of Dr Who and Red Dwarf – two of its other clear inspirations – that adds to the sense that this is a project created by admirers and fans of the genre whose enthusiasm seeps through. Whilst the story is a mess, the characters who drive it are relatable and enjoyable, brought to life by solid performances of its cast.

If a fun jaunt and a few laughs was the extent of the filmmakers aims for Time Travel is Dangerous, then mission accomplished. The talents of established comedy vets in Stephen Fry and Johnny Vegas are enough to familiarise viewers and the lesser-known stars Ruth Syratt and Megan Stevenson more than hold their own. But audiences are fated to fade in and out of the feature length running time thanks to a confusing and unengaging story that fails to catch viewers attention. This one is definitely time passed, but not always time well spent.