I'm unfamiliar with filmmaker Stimson Snead, but it's an incredible supporting cast that he somehow assembled for this piece, and that alone is enough to warrant a look. Right from the very start we're also greeted with gratifyingly sharp production values - unexpected for such a small, unknown title - and an original score of synthwave from composers Si Begg and Damon Baxter that, to my absolute pleasure, goes a lot harder than it ever needed to (and never really lets up). We do also have to factor in the very premise, however: it's interesting and primed for amusement, but there's a question of how successfully and/or how seriously Snead will toy with time travel, a conceit which has been the sticking point for many a piece of fiction. Thankfully, however, like those other joys that greet us so rapidly, we don't need to wait to find out, because 'Tim Travers and the time traveler's paradox' is a total blast, and I'm aghast that this hasn't gotten bigger reception!
As it happens, Snead has gone about his time travel flippancy in a wonderfully shrewd manner. It lays the foundation for the plot, and for the clever, vibrant humor that will be peppered throughout - yet neither the plot nor the humor are fully reliant on the intricacies of time travel being impeccably thought out and scientifically cohesive to work, so it's easy to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. At the same "time," however, in his dialogue and scene work Snead builds on the plot and humor with meaningful (and fast-paced, and sometimes heavy) exploration of theoretical notions of science and philosophy, with the result that even as a viewer need not dwell on the particulars to have a good time, to dwell on and get twisted up in those particulars definitely adds another layer to the frivolities. Even that's not enough for Snead, though, for when he's not slyly referencing the bootstrap paradox or other minutiae, he's gleefully toying with other fantastical notions that have been dreamt up over time, and fiddling with the narrative structure, all while never losing sight of the plot and comedy. Frankly, just in considering all this, Snead's screenplay is possibly among the most brilliant I've ever seen.
But we're just getting started! Felicia Day, Joel McHale, Danny Trejo, and Keith David boast the star power, and it's a delight to see them at play here, but those in other supporting parts, including Snead himself, are just as great. Above all, as he takes the central role of time traveling tinkerer Tim Travers, it cannot be overstated how excellent Samuel Dunning is. This flick allows Dunning to exercise all his muscles as an actor, and even setting aside all the other glory to greet us, I think this would be worth watching just for him. This is to say nothing of the select few yet superb filming locations, ingeniously employed as they are through Snead's writing and direction, or the relatively light yet lovingly attended production design and art direction, props, costume design, and hair and makeup. What practical stunts and effects are employed are terrific; while post-production visuals aren't the top of the line, they're pretty darn stupendous, and far better than one might anticipate based on the nature of small-time productions that have proliferated across the Internet in the past ten to fifteen years. Our eyes are also met with keen cinematography, editing, sound, and even lighting; in all sincerity, what's not to love here?
Subtly but smoothly the story turns over time from riotous, far-out humor to darker and more serious sci-fi energies, and in every capacity the participants keep up with flawless ease and the vitality to match. In writing, in direction, in acting, in the music, and in every trace of the craftsmanship lies tremendous wit and originality as the picture dances across a marvelous bounty of very big ideas. With all this having been said, I don't think the feature is entirely perfect. There is some imbalance in the audio, for compared to literally anything else one might watch through any platform, by default the volume is so loud that one has to turn their speakers way down. A few instances of digital wizardry in the last act weirdly received less consideration than elsewhere in these ninety-some minutes, including even others in the last act that are even more grandiose and prevalent and nevertheless look outstanding. And for as bright as the considerable majority of everything is here, I can't help but think that Snead ran into some trouble with his third act, for he enters a narrative space that feels kind of oddly conventional in its far-flung whimsy. The wit and big thoughts continue through to the end, yet it somewhat comes across that Snead had difficulty resolving the plot, and he did after all get bogged down in the enormity of what he conjured and lost sight somewhere in the process.
Still, though less sure-footed in the back end, I can only repeat that much, much more than not, 'Tim Travers and the time-traveler's paradox' is fantastic. Where I'd argue it stumbles, the fault is no worse than we see in other kindred fare, and the difference here is that at its best - and for the preponderance of its runtime - this movie is incredibly smart, funny, and absorbing in ways that too many others aren't. No, it's not perfect, but even with fair criticisms in mind the sum total is so good that I could hardly be more pleased. I had high hopes based on Day's involvement, if I'm being honest, because at this point in her professional career I don't think she's prone to making ill-informed judgments, and my expectations have been well exceeded. It won't appeal to all comers nor meet with equal favor, but I found this to be fabulously entertaining, and I'm glad to give 'Tim Travers and the time traveler's paradox' my high recommendation!
