We are now living in an era where a film's budget no longer automatically determines how professional the final result looks. Matter of Time is a good example of that. While the film clearly does not have the financial resources of a major Hollywood production, it rarely feels cheap. The filmmakers manage to create a world that looks convincing enough to support the story.
That may be less remarkable nowadays than it would have been several years ago, but it is still refreshing to see a low-budget production that looks polished and does not constantly reveal that the filmmakers had to be creative with their limited resources.
A Familiar Concept, but Matter of Time Still Feels Fresh
The central concept behind Matter of Time is not particularly original on paper. A protagonist who has the ability to stop time is, of course, an idea that we have seen in various forms before.
However, thanks to its particular approach, the film still manages to feel surprisingly fresh and original. The filmmakers do not simply take a familiar superpower and place it in a standard science-fiction story. Instead, they give the concept their own spin. As a result, Matter of Time remains interesting, even when you think you already know where the story might be heading.
The film also clearly benefits from the fact that the filmmakers have incorporated their own interests and passions into the project.
The Passion for Game Design Is Clearly Visible
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Matter of Time is that the filmmakers' passion for game design is unmistakably present. That love for games is not merely incorporated into the story on a superficial level, but genuinely influences the way certain situations and ideas are approached.
Ultimately, that benefits the story as well. The rules surrounding certain situations often feel more natural as a result, while the sense of realism within the film's fantastical world is strengthened. It may sound strange to talk about realism in a film about stopping time, but the internal logic of the world is helped by this background.
It gives Matter of Time the feeling that its concept could just as easily have originated from a creative and original video game.
Matter of Time Works Best When It Simply Wants to Entertain
Where Matter of Time is at its strongest is when it does not try to be too much. The combination of entertainment, comedy, fantasy and science fiction works well for the most part. During those moments, the film is light-hearted, creative and, above all, simply enjoyable to watch.
The problems mainly arise when the film attempts to focus on deeper emotions and more serious themes. Those elements simply do not work as well. The emotional moments sometimes lack the impact needed to leave a genuine impression, while the more serious themes are not always developed enough.
That is unfortunate, but it also makes the film's greatest strength clear. Matter of Time is at its best when it simply tries to be an entertaining film and does not concern itself too much with logic.
Those are the moments when the film is truly able to be itself.
The Different Genres Do Not Always Work Well Together
The combination of comedy, fantasy and science fiction makes Matter of Time interesting, but it also creates a minor problem. The different genre elements occasionally work against one another.
Not in a way that causes the film to completely fall apart or creates major tonal clashes, but enough to make the film occasionally feel caught between two different directions.
The entertaining and light-hearted elements, for example, prevent you from taking the film entirely seriously. At the same time, the more serious aspects prevent the film from fully embracing its potential as pure entertainment.
The result is a production that could occasionally have been more effective if it had been willing to make a clearer choice. Nevertheless, the combination of genres mostly holds together and provides enough original moments to remain interesting.
The Acting Is Decent, with Sean Astin Being a Welcome Addition
The acting in Matter of Time is generally decent. Not every actor is equally convincing, and some characters consequently remain less memorable than the film probably intended.
Still, there are enough strong moments to keep the cast from becoming a problem. The presence of Sean Astin, in particular, adds a great deal to the film. His experience and recognisability automatically give him a certain screen presence.
It is not a role that single-handedly elevates the entire film, but Astin is undoubtedly a welcome addition and manages to bring more weight to the story on several occasions.
Not Every Character Is Given Enough Room
One of the clearer problems with Matter of Time lies in the development of several characters. Not everyone has a strong enough presence to genuinely become important to the story.
The most noticeable example is the protagonist's father. During the middle section of the film, it is strongly implied that he is going to become an important character and that his presence will play a larger role in the story.
At that point, the film appears to be setting up an interesting subplot.
But ultimately, almost nothing comes from it.
The father is largely absent during the first part of the film and then almost completely disappears again during the final section. The subplot built around him ultimately goes nowhere whatsoever. As a result, it feels as though the film decided somewhere along the way not to further develop a storyline it had previously introduced.
Moments like these prevent Matter of Time from being as strong as its concept arguably deserves.
Matter of Time Review: An Entertaining but Uneven Science-Fiction Film
Matter of Time is an interesting film that primarily demonstrates how much a creative approach can compensate for limited resources. The concept of a protagonist who can stop time may not be particularly original, but the way the filmmakers approach it ensures that the film still feels fresh.
The obvious passion for game design also gives the story its own identity and helps establish the internal logic of its world. Visually, the film additionally proves that low-budget productions can look and feel surprisingly polished these days.
Nevertheless, the overall result remains somewhat uneven. The more serious and emotional elements do not work as well as the lighter and more entertaining moments, while the different genres occasionally get in each other's way. The development of certain characters and subplots could also have been stronger.
But when Matter of Time simply focuses on creativity, humour, fantasy and science-fiction entertainment, it is a film that succeeds quite well at being entertaining.
Final Verdict
Matter of Time has enough original ideas and creative energy to remain interesting throughout. The film does not always work when it tries to become serious, but it regularly succeeds when it embraces its strengths as light-hearted science-fiction entertainment.
Rating: 6/10
