TiMER (2009) Online

I was actually genuinely enjoying this film. It was challenging notions of true love in a way that was actually challenging - if you met someone and fell in love, would you give up true love for them?

Steph isn't going to meet anyone any time soon and has decided to take a chance with Dan. Oona is delaying living her life because of the possibility that at any moment, her time could suddenly change. They both decide together to get their timers removed, inspired by someone who is absolutely certain the person she is with isn't her "one" and simply no longer cares.

I think the movie should have ended there. Mikey even says it: our lives should have a little bit of mystery. Everything suggested that the movie was going to end there.

And then Prince Charming comes waltzing in and devastates three people's romances. But it's okay, because they're "destined to be together."

This movie fails on a comedy level because of the serious twist ending, it fails on a romance level because there is nothing romantic about the meeting of any person with a timer we see. I as an audience member was rooting for Mikey and Oona, I was rooting for Steph and Dan. And then to have those relationships shunted to the side just because that wasn't the true path means I just wasted my time watching these people waste their time.

I have a lot of questions that this movie throws in the air and then doesn't answer. How many people's timers have suddenly stopped working because the other person got the timer removed? Is there just a craigslist out there of people looking for people who got their timer's removed? What happens if someone's "the one" has died before they met? Do they qualify to be a "the one" then? What about the fact that Oona is a child of a "doomed" relationship? If Oona had never been born because her dad had never been with her mom, would Dan have wound up with Steph instead? Or would he just have never had a "the one?"

All the couples we see are roughly the same age, but if this is based just on chemistry, isn't it possible there could be some really uncomfortable pair-ups? People with language barriers? People with age differences? What's gonna happen when her dad meets "the one?"

This movie could have said something really progressive about the problematic nature of serial monogamy. Instead, as far as this movie is concerned, you really are wasting your life on every romantic encounter you have until you meet "the one" and no matter who they are or whether your sister is also in love with them, you have an obligation to yourself to chase after them.

I feel hollow and frustrated and disappointed now.

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.

The ending to this movie was such a let down. The message is conformity and mindlessness, not to mention disloyalty and self-centered behavior. Wow, what a way to spread the message. I think I'll go read "1984" again. If you want to see an example of a movie that took a startling negative view on independence without seeming to be aware of it this is the one for you. It's actually kind of frightening what the writer and director seemed to think was an acceptable ending. The main character's little show of bravado at the end was useless since she had already capitulated and willingly followed what an electronic pulse dictated over mind/heart. Very disturbing.

By the way if your wondering why I watched it in the first place my 20 year old daughter asked me to because she liked it. After she heard my review of it...not so much anymore.

TiMER (2009)

A really fabulous, tightly written, tightly focused movie. It has a smart, sci-fi hook: people can wear a "timer" that predicts when they will meet their true love. This becomes the device around which the really charming, lovable characters play with the idea of true love, and love, and relationship, and the predictability (or not) of all of that. And it is done without a shred of darkness--I mean, it's an upbeat, rose-colored view of this oddly painted future. There's a hint of Juno in the tone, and maybe Sex and the City in the sorting out of relationships by the two main women.

The production, or feel, of things isn't as low budget as you might think given its low budget, but it is filmed with a modern television kind of flatness, or brightness. For all the Big Brother eeriness to it all, the world of these two half sisters and their prospective boyfriends is downright happy. Even the old folks home is a comic paradise, more or less.

What really makes the picture work are the two leading women, who play their upbeat diffidence and sarcasm with wide eyes and cute smiles. Their fast comebacks are razor sharp but never quite slashing. Equal to them but in a smaller role is their chipper mother, a paradigm of American good will wearing blinders. And the one boyfriend, the cute (of course) guy who plays in a band, happily immature, is also spot on. So, with a cast like this of complete unknowns playing their hearts out with delicacy and fearlessness, following a quirky and impossible futuristic notion, you can't help but kick back and laugh.

In a near future, many people wear a timer implanted in their wrists by matchmakers to find their soul mates and true love. The twenty-nine year-old orthodontist Oona O'Leary (Emma Caulfield) is worried about her future since she cannot find her true love. When she meets the twenty- two year old supermarket cashier and musician Mikey Evers (John Patrick Amedori), his timer shows that they will be together in four months and she falls for him.

Oona lives with her stepsister and best friend Steph Depaul (Michelle Borth) that works as receptionist in a nursing home. When Steph meets the widow Dan (Desmond Harrington) that does not wear a timer, they start seeing each other. Meanwhile Oona finds that Mikey's timer is fake and she is affected by her discovery. The birthday of Oona and Steph is on the same day and their mother Marion Depaul (JoBeth Williams) invites Mikey and Dan to the party. On the eve, Oona and Steph decide to remove the timer, but when Oona is ready to take it of, the timer is activated by someone who has just implanted it. Who could be her soul mate?

"TiMER" is a charming romantic comedy with a different but silly concept, but also flawed with an awful conclusion. The idea would be acceptable in a future or a near future, but even Oona's father had implanted a timer when she was born meaning thirty years ago. The perfect message would be with Oona daring to love Mikey free of her mother's oppression for using the timer and Steph and Dan together. Further, there are several questions raised along the story without answer. For example, has Oone reconciled with her father? Did he like Mikey's CD? What has happened to Steph and how would be her relationship with Oona if she stays with Dan? My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Timer – Contagem Regressiva para o Amor" ("Timer- Countdown to Love)

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.

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.

I attended the World Premiere of "TiMER" at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. This is one of those "sweet little indies" I look for at festivals. They are few and far between but finding a film like this makes it worth the effort.

"TiMER" is, on the face of it, a romantic comedy. But its premise is so original and offbeat -- the film crosses over into the science fiction genre -- that, like the best indies, it's hard to pigeonhole. The basic idea (not a spoiler since this is revealed even before the opening credits) is that an implanted device on a person's wrist counts down to the moment the wearer meets his/her true love. It's based on the notion that everyone has one soulmate out there, somewhere, and each person's timer will go off at precisely the same moment when the fateful meeting takes place.

First-time writer/director Jac Schaeffer's script is smart and brilliantly executed by some of the best actors in the business, including Emma Caulfield ("Beverly Hills, 90210, Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Michelle Borth ("Wonderland"), John Patrick Amedori ("The Butterfly Effect, Stick It, Gossip Girl"), and Desmond Harrington ("Wrong Turn, Dexter").

Emma Caulfield's poignant performance leads the way as the orthodontist Oona, who shares a uniquely powerful bond with stepsister Steph. This gives Steph a private window into Oona's true vulnerability. Caulfield is simply angelic, with a light that shines from within. Steph is a slightly domesticated punk girl, with an acerbic wit to match. Enter John Patrick Amedori as Mikey. To Oona, he appears as a shallow, uneducated supermarket checker with a hopeless future. Mikey is like an unruly dog who's outgrown his puppy years while retaining the innocence of youth which is undeniably appealing to Oona. Amedori wins the comedy award hands down, with the film's funniest lines and the ability to do more with inappropriate facial expressions than any dialogue could. Those expressions elicited the biggest laughs from the festival audiences. Desmond Harrington plays Dan the Man, buttoned-down and well-meaning, with a slightly brash exterior that can be endearing when he makes the effort. The talented supporting cast couldn't be better. Watch for Hayden McFarland as younger brother Jesse, who won the affection of the audience with some of the most heartfelt scenes in the movie.

The dialogue is often hilarious with an authenticity that not only comes from Schaeffer's brilliant script but also from improvised moments between Caulfield and Amedori. Their unlikely relationship and on screen presence is simply magical.

Production values belie the film's low budget. The look is warm and welcoming, with soft lighting and a palette of colors evocative of a stack of fresh linens. Andrew Kaiser's soundtrack sets just the right tone as the opening credits roll, using a theme crafted out of the melodies found in old music boxes and windup clocks. The film is shot by cinematographer Harris Charalambous in a similar fashion, as though each scene, each shot, matches the ticking of a timepiece. Combined with Peter Samet's efficient editing, the pace of the film keeps its timing appropriately consistent.

From the opening shot of a parking meter face, to the numbers on Oona's alarm clock, to the timer signaling that her morning coffee is ready, the film hammers home the message that clocks rule our lives. We rely on these mechanisms to determine our every move. In "TiMER's" alternative universe -- the film actually takes place in a "what if?" present rather than the future -- the question is asked, "what if timers ruled our love lives, too?" Would you obey the predetermined destiny of the device or would you follow your heart?

Every romantic comedy could use a little injection of the originality of "TiMER." By far the most interesting love stories come from independent filmmakers these days and Jac Schaeffer's debut is another shining example. Sure, science-fiction concepts and love stories aren't exactly bread and butter, but "TiMER" opens up infinite possibilities for discussion about what true love really is while remaining lively, entertaining and sharply written.

The film revolves around a concept that's simple enough: what if you could find out the day you were to meet your soul mate just by having a timer installed on your wrist? If scientific implausibility bothers you, skip "TiMER," because the film operates on this assumption entirely. Former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" actress Emma Caulfield stars as Oona, a woman on the verge of 30 but whose timer is useless because as it turns out, her supposed soul mate doesn't have one. Although her story is the main thread, there are numerous subplots that explore the various possibilities of the implications of such a device.

The greater question at hand then becomes "what if love lost all its predictability?" How would we choose to live our lives? Oona is a successful orthodontist who desperately wants to know who "the one" is. She's taken numerous guys she has met to get timers installed to see if they're him, but to no avail. Her frustration and the influence of her promiscuous stepsister Steph (Michelle Borth) whose timer won't go off until she's over 40 lead her to a fling with a younger guy named Mikey (John Patrick Amedori) whose timer has about four months left on it.

Much of the earlier drama is regarding the question of whether two people who have proof that they aren't meant for each other should become involved. This situation and many other hypotheticals that arise in the film are tough; we barely understand love as it exists in reality, so how can one expect Schaeffer to capture a totally made-up version of it? Even if there are some gaps, Schaeffer's clearly thought through all the possibilities of what relationship drama (that's also between family and friends) would look like in this society and it shows. Credit also belongs to Caulfield, who's forced to embody this "hypothetical" struggle internally and instantly jives with our sympathies.

Schaeffer's also a heck of a writer. Some studio would be wise to swoop her up to write romantic comedies (in part because she's a woman and there aren't enough of them writing rom-coms). There wasn't an ounce of dialogue that felt cliché, no jokes that didn't feel organic to the characters making them (namely Borth, who's excellent) or the situations they came from.

That brings us to the ending. I have to pity any writer who has to resolve a romantic comedy, especially one that challenges our perceptions as much as "TiMER." The need for a satisfying ending is more powerful with romance than any other genre and Schaeffer already has to be poignant because this is a high-concept film. She does well. It's a bit rough and she could make a better case for her decision, but at least we can take solace in the fact that it's not a giant cliché waiting to crack on our head. That, and the rest of the film (especially the themes and raised questions) was pretty darn good.

~Steven C

Visit my site at http://moviemusereviews.com

While the above review would say that this movie was somewhat inspiring, I would tend to disagree. Timer is a movie which promises to challenge the stereotype of one person for everyone, but in the end re-enforces it. There really isn't one person for everyone, and I was hoping that the movie would relate this to the audience, but the ending was flat and awful.

The main character falls for a complete stranger after having a wonderful time with a perfectly wonderful younger man. (nope, not buying it). What this says and tries to re-enforce to us as an audience is that we should all date our own age, and anything other isn't the right person for us.

Examples Her father has a timer but it isn't synced with the woman he's living with (much younger than him) Her mother and step-father both have timers and they are the same age.

She is 30 and her love interest is 22, the timer doesn't think they should be together.

She and her sister's love interest both have timers that sync and they are roughly the same age.

Their younger brother is 14 and his timer goes off seeing another 14 year old girl.

I was, for the most part, completely into this movie before the ending. It was well acted and had some great ideas. But, it turns out there is no enlightenment at all, just the same old society influenced bullshit, one person for you, the same age as you, and there's no one else for you.

Bottom line, this movie is just a huge let down. Maybe it was my fault for wanting it to be deeper and have a more meaningful ending. But no, it's just the same old crap you've seen before.

Don't waste your time with this one, it's a huge let down.

Oona is trapped in a silly world where electronic "timers" implanted in your wrist can dictate the exact moment you find true love. The only problem is that your soulmate must also get implanted with a timer.

Emma Caulfield does well with her performance of Oona and Michelle Borth adds a nice banter as her step-sister, Steph. John Patrick Harrington is serviceable as Mikey and there are no qualms about the supporting cast.

So, why did I give this a 4? Simply put - cliché and obvious plot. This movie is so predictable except for the ending which is a complete buzz-kill. And I wasn't drinking.

So, we have two sisters with timers that are broken in one sense or another. Steph falls in love with Oona's soulmate who isn't wearing a timer, who was previously married, but separated via death. He was convinced he was in love, but according to his timer, it was Oona the whole time. Lies.

Mikey romances Oona, but it isn't enough for the stupid screenwriter, who lets the timer pick Oona's soulmate at the end. This film had potential, but it's small scope and cliché twists and turns left me feeling empty.

I'm a bit surprised by the harsh reviews on here. I consider my tastes in movies to be rather picky, so for me to say a rom com is 9 out of 10 stars is rare to say the least. I loved the concept and I thought it was executed extremely well. It asked and answered a lot of "what if" questions without going over the top, managing to stay grounded in it's characters. I appreciated the ending, not too cynical or sappy, just very well written and acted. Sure more questions could have been explored, but I appreciate that they left a lot of strings untied just to keep the focus on the main plot. It easily could have gotten off course, but the story remained tight, witty and empathetic. I 100% disagree when people said it was calculated, boring and slow. I think maybe I was watching a different movie. I was engaged the whole time and laughed out loud at several points. I especially appreciated the sisters' relationship, and their commitment to each other even when faced with impossible decisions. It's not always about getting the guy, and getting the guy isn't always the fairytale ending you wanted it to be. Realistic (as much as a sci fi/rom com can be). Lovable. Just an all around good movie. Plus I love Emma Caulfield from Buffy, which is an added bonus. ^_~

What if you could find out the exact moment that you were going to meet your soul mate? Would you do it? Would you want to know? Or would that ruin the excitement of it? If you want to know the instance when you will first see the person who will make you happier than anyone else in the world, it will just cost you $79.99 and easy monthly payments of $15.99. However, we are not responsible if you are unhappy with the soul mate you receive or if you are upset by how long or short it may be until you find that one.

This is what the company tells you right before they inject the TiMER in to your wrist, a device which will start a countdown as soon as it is injected, a countdown to when you meet the most important person in your life. But what happens if your TiMER is blank? This is the dilemma that Oona is stuck with. A blank TiMER means that "your one" has not purchased a TiMER yet. Oona dates TiMER-less guy after TiMER-less guy, convincing them all to get TiMER's and over and over seeing their TiMER's light up with numbers while hers remains dim and blank. She then meets a boy named Mikey whose TiMER has four months left on the clock. As they begin to hit it off despite mismatching TiMERs, they begin to question: is the TiMER always right? Emma Caufield shines beautifully as Oona, a woman desperate to know that she even has a soul mate out there in the world. I had never seen or heard of this actress before, but I found that she has a small cult following from her years on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While I am not a fan of that show, I know that anyone associated with Joss Whedon is always spectacular. The character of Oona was extremely reminiscent of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character Tom from (500) Days of Summer. Both Tom and Oona share a hopeless sense of romance, wearing their hearts on their sleeves, anxiously searching for someone to hold on to for the rest of their life. In addition, both actors excelled wonderfully in their roles, showing the determination of a person on a mission for love and the depression of a person who has given up on their search for "their one." The supporting crew was just as stellar as the lead. Michelle Borth played the role of Steph, a cynical, yet supportive sister excruciatingly well. The movie gave just enough focus to her character that we were able to understand reasons for her cynicism and exactly what was going inside her head. John Patrick Amedori, an actor little known aside from a few episodes of Gossip Girl, played Mikey, Oona's love interest and a very lovable young adult. Once again, the movie gave enough focus so that it was not just Oona who you get to understand as a character but Mikey and Steph also. Being able to glimpse more than one character's personality and motives made this movie much more enjoyable. You could see things from everyone's point of view, making each character much more accessible to the viewer.

The writer/producer/director Jac Schaeffer only has one other credit aside from this movie, a documentary short from five years ago. This film was so phenomenally written and directed; I humbly wait for Jac to do another film for us to watch. I do have to mention one more thing which I do not usually notice. The score of this movie was brilliant. The composer, Andrew Kaiser, seemed to match perfectly what the characters were doing and thinking to the music which was playing at the time. This music was just another thing that reminded me of (500) Days of Summer, but this composer had nothing to do with that film.

One thing that this film accomplished was to open up many ethical doors and questions, all related to this mythical reality and its TiMER. As stated above, is the TiMER always right? Would it not be incredibly more awkward meeting your soul mate and instantly knowing that they were as such? And above all, would you get one? Would you want to know or would you leave it up to Fate? All of these questions come in to play and rattle around your brain begging to be answered. Even now, a few days after watching the film, I keep contemplating all of these questions and more. So, I ask you: would you get a TiMER? As I am sure you have gathered from everything I have said thus far, I loved this movie. It was one of the best I have seen so far this year and by far one of the best independent movies I have ever watched. Looking through reviews of this, it appears that it has not been watched by many and not even particularly liked by those that have watched it. Nonetheless, I look forward to more things from everyone who was involved in this movie. I have drawn many comparisons between them already, but this movie was very much like (500) Days of Summer, only far superior. This is because TiMER had a hint of science fiction integrated what with the idea of having a TiMER strapped to one's wrist. This combination of romance and sci-fi was a match made in heaven.

******************SPOILER ALERT - This movie had me from the beginning. It was a fun, high-concept, fantasy with quirky story beats and solid casting. I was along for the ride for the whole movie until Oona ends up with the wrong guy at the end, her step-sister's boyfriend. The entire movie was spent building relationship chemistry between Oona and Mikey, only to have it yanked out from us at the end. The ending felt very manipulative and forced because we were rooting for Mikey and Oona to be together.

A cool way to have treated this, would have been to have Mikey's newly installed timer zero out in a past time in history when he was at the surprise party and Oona's timer was going off. It could have easily worked that Oona's timer was for Mikey and Steph's boyfriend's timer was for Steph (because she had hers removed).

But, I guess if I didn't watch the movie's ending scene, I would have loved this film.

"What's the point in continuing without a guarantee?"

A device that tells you the exact amount of time it will be until you meet your soulmate seems to be the perfect answer for heartbreak and uncertainty, but it only causes problems for Oona, who has yet to have her timer begin to count down (because the person she is meant to be with, whoever they may be, has yet to get one). This frustration and loneliness leads her to begin a casual relationship with a young man whose timer countdown is set to end in just a few months. A fairly interesting tale unravels from this setup, that brings up questions of destiny and what's better, the person who is right for us or the person we choose. 

A novel premise and thoughtful script from a modern romantic drama? AND a likable protagonist that's not the same caricature we've seen a thousand times (Emma Caulfield gets total credit for pulling that off)? I genuinely liked TiMER, for those reasons and others.

This isn't my usual kind of movie, but it's so well made that I enjoyed it. Genre fans will like it even more.

I thought that the idea of the TiMER was very clever. I also enjoyed the movie very much until the end.

Why would these people let themselves be ruled by these devises? I was saddened to realize that these characters ultimately could not think for themselves. I found the ending very depressing. The 4 main characters were heartbroken because they felt science was better at choosing their loves than they were.

Also, we were left with too many unanswered questions:

1. What happens to the sister? Does she finally meet her true love when she reaches 43?

2. Do Oona and her father reconcile?

3. What does Oona's father think of the band's music?

4. Does Oona confront her mother after learning that it was her father's idea to get TiMERs?

Other reviews have given the details, so I'll stick to overall impressions. This movie moves a little slowly, and there are no belly laughs or sophomoric humor. It also poses some questions without answering them, which enrages some people (you know who you are, so avoid this movie if you like everything to be tied in a little bow). I tend to like movies that leave you thinking, so this was refreshing for me. The movie is intelligent, and sweet and comforting like a mug of hot chocolate on a cold day. The acting was quite good, everyone was very believable in their roles and no one was over the top. If you like quirky comedies that grow on you as the movie progresses, you won't be disappointed.

This is a well-acted and well-written romcom. It is enjoyable, without the belly-laughs, due to its good cast and direction. The premise, that implanted timers will reveal a person's true love, is intriguing. Emma Caulfield is very good as the somewhat overwrought Oona, whose timer never seems to get any traction. Michelle Borth is fine as her acid-tongued step-sister/roommate, Steph. John Amedori is quite watchable as the young timerless Mikey, whose affair with Oona she has to view as a stepping-stone relationship, due to his younger age, lack of standing, and lack of timer. Their romance is enjoyable to watch develop.

The plot proceeds in pretty standard romcom fashion, but very well done and pleasant - almost heart-warming. I'd say the movie is a relief to watch, as it entertains without the frenetic Hollywood one-liner-per-minute and gross-out requirements.

Timer slightly lets us down in some minor ways, and these have to do with closure. Oona visits her estranged record-producer father with a disk of her young paramour's work, but we hear no more about it. The fate of Oona's teenage brother and his timer-discovered one-and-only really is not explored. And in the end, none of the relationships (including Oona's) are resolved beyond the vaguest hint of what may happen to these pleasant people. I would have approved lengthening the movie enough to resolve these issues one way or another.

That aside, Timer is a pleasant journey into modern (future?) romance and surely worth a watch. And if you don't require your movie endings tying a neat package, so much the better.

I picked this film on Netflix not knowing what it was about. Then I got introduced from the opening scenes to a very interesting concept and was drawn in by an original idea. I don't know if this was done in any other film, but it is the first time that I have seen it in a movie. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The original concept was refreshing and the main character was a lovable girl who was looking for love like many of us. (By the way, for those who didn't remember, she was on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, played Xander's fiancée). Her situation (minus the obvious thing that we don't have access to, at least right now) is quite believable as I know many people in her predicament, searching for someone to love and to spend the rest of their lives with. It is a romantic, dramatic and funny movie that sits well with me and is quite enjoyable to watch.

Before I feel like I bash this film, I would like to point out some bright spots: the acting is pretty good, the lighting and mood is solid, the sound and music is alright, and camera work is dead on. I guess everything but the actual story worked for me.

I am unsure what to think of this film. Once you read a preview for the film, it comes off as an intriguing concept. As you watch the movie, you realize a lot of flaws in the logistics of the concept.

I also saw it was listed as a romantic comedy, but it was more of a romance with forced humor. When I write that, I mean any part of this film that you may have laughed at (note: they aren't even funny parts really) could easily have been removed from the film. The humor just didn't match the tone of the situations and didn't feel like it applied well.

The character development leaves something to be desired. I feel maybe a 1/3 of the characters had a personality that you feel you can relate to.

The story keeps you interested for the most part, but you are constantly waiting for something to happen and some scenes feel dragged out or forced. It felt like the film was predictable, but there are some pleasant swerves that maintain your interest.

The main problem I have with the film is it leaves much to be desired. I felt there were too many questions left unanswered at the end and I strongly feel if a little more time was put into the ending or giving a few more answers, the rating could be an 8 out of 10.

A sci-fi romantic comedy with an intriguing concept: A gadget is invented that lets you know exactly when you will meet 'The One', getting rid of 'all the guesswork'.

This movie does some interesting things with it, but not enough, and then it stops being interesting for a flat ending.

It deals with a woman who has decades of waiting to do and shows how she is resigned to her fate and only has one-night stands in the meantime, preferably with 'timer-guys' since they aren't 'conflicted'.

It explores another woman who's timer is blinking because her One hasn't gotten a timer yet, and her frustrating search for him, trying to get her dates to put on a timer to know for sure if she should stay with them.

It also briefly touches on a case of a young boy who meets his One when he is 14 and still inexperienced and confused.

But that's as interesting as it gets. I had a million questions and ideas while watching the movie, but the movie just lazily attaches a predictable ending, and you can see they just stopped thinking at a certain point.

For example, the young boy: What is the damage to someone who sees his life already mapped out for him at 14? Wouldn't he possibly lash out and try to have sex with as many other girls as possible?

If the timer 'only confirms what you already know', then why was the timer's revelation at the end so obviously wrong for everyone?

Where are the organized groups of people against the timer? Pick a reason: Religion, adventure-seekers, bohemians, people who don't believe in the One, or in monogamy, etc etc.

Why did Steph want to remove the timer? She already knew what it says that it would take 14 more years... there would be no change in her mind after removing it.

Why did Dan get a timer after he was so sure that he already had the One and seemed so against it?

Technically, how can the Timer read 'Oxytocin' levels ('the hormone of love') if you haven't fallen in love yet? But I suppose one has to ignore things like this and suspend disbelief for a while...

And lots of interesting questions that this movie never explores: What if you are supposed to have two Ones (one after the other)? What if you fall in love with two people at once? Why don't people ever doubt the Timer? What if you are supposed to get some life experience with someone who isn't the One before you meet the One? What happens if you meet the One but then screw it up by cheating on them? Why aren't there people who never meet the One? Why don't people think of these and many more questions like these in this movie? And if the Timer is really only measuring hormones, then these questions are perfectly valid and many more like them.

And then there's the ending: A confused and unsatisfactory mess. So they force themselves to get to know each other and suddenly avoid people they really care for just because the Timer told them to... not exactly a happy ending, and it doesn't go with what the Timer is all about as well. I can appreciate that things aren't supposed to click all at once, and that what we need (versus what we want for now) may not be obvious at first, but why aren't people doubting that they may be making it happen only because of the Timer?

And so on. In summary: This is the kind of idea that could have been 500 times better in capable hands (Gondry? Kaufman?). Which makes this lazy movie that less enjoyable.

What an original film! As far as rom-coms go this one is far better than most, it was entertaining, funny and thought provoking.

The idea of being able to recognise 'the one' is intriguing and the plot plays with this concept cleverly yet without ever taking itself too seriously. The characters were likable, (and Dan, played by Desmond Harrington is definitely easy on the eye, girls mmm!!) Mikey was sweet too (a very believable and entertaining performance from John P Amedon).

Without giving anything away, it was a great story and I liked the ending too.

All in all a great film for a girly night.

And whats wrong with that?

An interesting concept, in a world where everyone has a timer that tells them when they are going to meet their soul mate. It counts down and will beep once you make eye contact with them. But only when your soul mate gets a timer does yours start counting down.

Our main character Uma's timer has yet to start and kind of countdown. Her sister's timer says that she won't meet her soul mate until she is 40 years old.

The concept is unique and entertaining. It's a fun movie to watch when you just want something simple and pleasant, but done well. This is the movie for you. It's heavier on the Romantic side and less so on the comedy side.

I saw this at the opening of The 2009 Fort Lauderdale Int'l Film Festival. The audience was very responsive and friendly and the film was warmly received. That being said, it was not a good film. The script had terrible discrepancies; in terms of the time line of the "timer" device: the super market guy, played by John Patrick Amedori, (who was in the wrong movie entirely), said it was invented 8 years earlier; while the central character's father had the timer 30 years prior. Sloppy writing. Terrible, terrible casting, as none of the characters matched one another - not for one second did any of them seem like they were from the same imaginary world. This half chick flick, half dumbed down Sci-Fi film was bearable to watch, but only bearable. In short: hackneyed writing, mediocre direction and an obvious attempt at creating a cash-cow-pilot- formula for episodic television. The director needs to think a bit more about artistry and a lot less about formulating a hit, because clearly this film is neither. On the stink meter this was a PEE-U!

Before watching this movie, I read its story a little bit. I felt that concept was little bit weird. But still I took a chance and watched the movie. I'm happy that this movie didn't disappoint me. As someone has already pointed out about the end that there were many questions unanswered. Even I thought the same. But that doesn't make this movie bad. We can easily make it out what can happen. overall, I like this movie. The flow was good. I didn't find any part boring or out of the scene. The storyline was simple with some "future" stuff. Not digestible but I digested it as other things were pretty fine. Everyone acted brilliantly. Direction was good. I enjoyed this movie.