Timer

The Timer is a small device which told the person who had it attached exactly when he or she will meet their soul mates. Oona, a woman whose mother was desperately relying on the thing, has her timer completely blank since she got it so she spends a lot of time trying to figure out the problem. Meanwhile, fortunately for her, she meets a charming boy, younger than her, which will play an important role in the nearby future.

It's an enjoyable comedy which bases on a pretty interesting concept (the Timer) and presents a bunch of people whose lives are deeply affected by this expensive gizmo. As much as I liked the movie (most of it) I have to say that the finale is simply catastrophic. They ruined it as badly as they could, from a tangled but pretty love story to an unnecessary Timer intervention which makes everything fall apart. Pity, as it could have been a much better movie if it wasn't for that stupid ending

I went into "TiMER" mainly drawn into the premise, somewhat expecting the film to not live up to what I thought was a brilliant and fascinating concept. But it ended up exceeding my expectations, and I am now completely enamored by this film.

"TiMER" is as close as a film is going to get to being this year's "(500) Days of Summer," in that it's a romantic comedy, but an unconventional one, and one that really comes out and says something (or at least proposes a question or two) about love instead of being two hours of cheesy chick-flick fluff. It's thought-provoking and will give you plenty to discuss with a friend after seeing it, and at the same time it's very enjoyable and entertaining. It's full of truly laugh-out-loud and slightly quirky humor, and it has a couple good twists I didn't see coming.

One other thing I loved about "TiMER" is the characters. Many romantic comedies have the one-dimensional supporting characters who are just there for the sake of filling the role of "main character's bff," etc. But all of the supporting characters in "TiMER" were multi- dimensional and distinctive, and they all had their own stories that I became invested in without detracting from the main focus of Oona's story.

Whether you're looking for the next romantic comedy that strays a bit from the prescribed path, or you're looking to answer the "what if?" this film proposes, or you're just looking for a quality independent film of any sort, "TiMER" will be well worth your time.

Normally I tend to avoid writing reviews where all that needed to be said has already been said, unless it's a film I feel very attached to. But TiMER is one of those little surprising experiences that really deserve a few words of praise. It's difficult enough bringing forth something original and well written even when it isn't a rom-com.

With an interesting premise - that people can get timers telling them when they will meet their soul mate - the story follows Oona and her sister Steph, who are both nearing their thirties and have yet to find their other halves. Oona, who is to all extents and purposes the main character, goes through a series of lackluster attempts at finding someone who suits her, but the emphasis really is on how her mentality and approach are affected by the awareness that there is a path that needs to be found. When she becomes involved with a young guy, for the sake of it more than anything else, the whole debate around predestination gets a fair questioning in a balanced manner.

It's great to see nicely rounded characters who form a believable and not overly sugarcoated unit and the writing aids the actors tremendously in bringing forth this tale of love, family and family love. The film may have some weaker points, but I reckon its conviction, so to say, pays off in the end. Credit is due to the whole cast and crew for managing a fine idea into something that finds its balance early on and is capable of holding on to it until the end. The satisfaction is only greater when it comes as unexpectedly as this little obscure picture.

Fun and cool idea, promising characters, but with a very questionable ending that gets lost in the direction the film was developing with the characters. As well as missed the chance to convey a nicer/constructive image about the TiMER idea.

Finally our clocks have counted down and we have Jac Schaeffer in our lives. Schaeffer has brilliantly written "TiMER" and brought a fantastic romantic comedy into the world.

Sure, all romantic comedies follow the same trend, cute girl wants to meet her soul mate. The poor ones do it with horrible main characters and ridiculously unfunny contrived situations. The somewhat better ones, which we have been forced to accept as good, add comedy and likable characters. But now, we have "TiMER".

This film gives us a couple of characters, all of them are very funny and relatable. And it also adds ingenuity, with an original technological timer to count down to the arrival of our soul mate, and intelligence and even mixes in philosophy. "TiMER" can be enjoyed by everyone, the humour is sweet and appropriate for every age, and for every "thinker" out there, there's a lot for you to over-analyze, and for everyone who doesn't want to think there's enough to enjoy on its surface.

I have said a lot of good things about "TiMER" here and deservedly so because this is a well written romantic comedy (apparently they really do exist!). This film won't climb the ranks into my all time favourite movies because it doesn't evoke too many emotions, but it definitely deserves to be seen and talked about.