Even though Project Almanac does not reinvent the found footage format, the movie still manages to tell a gripping (and stylish) time travel story.
When brainy high schoolerDavid Raskin (Jonny Weston) is rejected for a prestigious scholarship that would have allowed him to attend MITscience program, Davids widowedmotherKathy (Amy Landecker)decides to put the family homeup for sale to secure enough money for the top-tier college.While digging through old boxes in the attic in preparation for the sale, David and his younger sister, Christina (Virginia Gardner), discover a mysterious video camera packedamongtheir deceased fathers belongings. Inside the camera is an aged tape of Davids seventh birthday party; however, upon close examination of the video David, along with friendsQuinn (Sam Lerner) andAdam (Allen Evangelista), notice somethingunexplainable aneighteen year-old David (with the same camera) standing in the background of the decade-old footage.
Following thisbizarrerevelation, the palsinvestigate Davids basement for a potential answer- learningthat Davids fatherwas a brilliant inventor who helped developthe worlds first time machine, dubbed Project Almanac. Driven by personal desires (money, popularity) and a thirst for discovery, the friends begin a painstaking process of rebuilding the machine. Yet,upon the devices completion, the young tech-heads, joinedbyDavids new girlfriend Jessie (Sofia Black-DElia), learn the cost of experimentation specifically that even the smallestmisadventure through time can have drastic consequences in the present.
Jonny Weston as David Raskin in Project Almanac
Formerly titledWelcome to Yesterday, Project Almanac was brought to the big screen by Michael Bays Platinum Dunes production house with freshman feature director Dean Israelite sitting at the helm. Nevertheless, in spite of untested talent behind the camera and mostly unknown actors on screen, Project Almanac providesan entertaining time travel adventure with genuinely sharp humor, tight pacing, and quality performances from the main cast. For established fans of mind-bendingtimey whimey stories (e.g., BBCsDoctor Who orShane Carruths cult hitPrimer) Project Almanac doesnt reinvent (or improve upon) the genre wheel. Specifically,in its effort to increase overall popcorn entertainment value, Project Almanaconly has room forstandard (and predictable) science fiction ideas.
The story centers ona number of time travel concepts that havebeen utilizedin prior yearhoppingfilms; yet, Israelite presents each onewith enough flair to differentiatehis version and make Project Almanac an overall enjoyable moviegoing experience. In the same way that Josh Trankfound a freshtwist on the superhero genre inChronicle, Israelites blendof found-footage, time travel theory, quirky comedy, and nuancedcharacter moments,ensures that most viewers will be too invested in the onscreen drama to scoff at any familiar plot beats. Thefilms recycled ideas still provide a poignant foundation forDavids misadventures in time and, most importantly,never violate establishedrules ofthis particular time travel tale.
Sam Lerner, Jonny Weston, Allen Evangelista, and Virginia Gardner in Project Almanac
In addition to a tight script, tried-and-truetime mechanics, and stylish filmmaking, Project Almanac also benefits from a likable cast young actors that capture both the wonder and horror of unchecked scientific discovery.Jonny Weston (Taken 3 and Insurgent) is tasked with a challenging part- as a likable nerd that is forced to make several incredibly difficult (and at times dark) decisions. Weston is a relative newcomer to the Hollywood spotlight, with a prettythin filmography, but the young lead is instrumental in sellingProject Almanacs most entertaining and impactful scenes.
That said, Weston doesnot carry the film alone andIsraelite has assembled a strong lineup of supporting actors. Where many High School-age found footage movies are packed with cliche stereotypes, Project Almanac surrounds Weston with quality performers in rounded, and downright relatable, roles. Lerners Quinnteeters on teenage tropes from time to time, though the character (and the performance) manage to find enough variation to make Quinnone of the more entertaining additions to the story especially asevents begin to go south. Similarly,Evangelistais a solid counter-balance to Weston and Lerner presenting Adam as a slightly less reckless adventurer and, often, the voice of reason intheir group.
Sofia Black-DElia as Jessie in Project Almanac
In a less successfuleffort, female characters likeChristina and Jessie, would bereduced to one-note accomplices formore nuanced male leads but Gardner andBlack-DElia, respectively, ensure that the girls of Project Almanac are just as dynamic and capable as their male counterparts. Certain aspects of the characters still borrow heavily from high school outlines but, by the end, theres no doubt that the ladies of Project Almanac aremore thanundercookedlove interests,they both playpivotalroles inkeyplot decisions as well as the films largerphilosophical (and scientific) quandaries.
That all said, moviegoers who already have reservations aboutthe found-footage format will find that Israelites film suffers fromstandard problems in the genre choppy, first person perspective, suspension of disbelief (that the kidswould actually keep filming in certain situations), and an overall limitedcinematic toolset. Project Almanac is far from an egregious found footage cash grab, since the filmmakers actually manage to utilize the format to enhance certain sequences (along with the overall story); yet, the film isnt likely to win-over skeptics who still feel that found footage is (almost always) a cheap gimmick that hides otherwise inferior visual effects and narrative development.
Ultimately, viewers who are looking for a fun (and at times funny) sci-fi story, should find plenty to enjoy in Israelites latest effort. Hardcore fans of thought-provoking time travel stories might be underwhelmed by the lack of fresh science fiction in Israelites project but, to his credit, the director still explores some pretty heady ideas especially in a film aimed at the casual (young adult) movie market. To that end, even thoughProject Almanac does not reinvent the found footage format, the movie still manages to tell a gripping (and stylish) time travel story.
TRAILER_____________________________________________________________
Project Almanacruns 106minutes and is Rated PG-13 for some language and sexual content. Now playing in theaters.
Let usknow what you thought of the film in the comment section below.
For anin-depth discussion of the film by the Screen Rant editors check back soon for our Project Almanacepisodeof theSR Underground podcast.
Source: http://screenrant.com/project-almanac-movie-reviews/
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