Time Again (2012)

Directed by: Ray Karwel
Written by: Ray Karwel, C.S. Hill and Debbie Glovin
Starring: Angela Rachelle, John T. Woods, Tara Smoker, Scott F. Evans

"That was now. This is then." The resistible tagline for the poorly titled time travel yarn Time Again pretty much sums up the creativity and entertainment value found on screen.

Marlo (Angela Rachelle) and her sister Sam (Tara Smoker) work at a busy diner. Today is Sam’s birthday and her more adventurous sister wants to drive to Vegas after work to celebrate. But such a celebration isn’t in the cards. Minutes after Marlo leaves the diner for the evening, a violent shootout occurs and Sam is presumed dead. Six months later, Marlo becomes the target of Mr. Way (Scott F. Evans), whose attempt to kidnap her is thwarted by Detective Lym (John T. Woods). Apparently, Mr. Way, a shady businessman, believes Marlo possesses some valuable coins given to her sister as a tip. While revisiting her old workplace, Marlo meets an eccentric old woman (Gigi Perreau) who states she has the power to send people back in time. The mysterious woman offers to send Marlo back to the diner just minutes before her sister was killed.

This turns out to be an ideal proposal as Mr. Way has inexplicably tracked down Marlo once again and is coming for her. Back in time, Marlo has difficulty changing the tragic trajectory of her sister’s fate, bungling the chance and finding herself back in the present – six months later. Fortunately for her, the old woman is still loitering around the diner with the power to send Marlo back (again) to the ill-fated moment. It is eventually revealed that the coins Mr. Way seeks are the very objects responsible for the time tango. Complicating matters is the fact that there are only four of these coins and each one can only be used only once. Scripting 101 (and basic math) ensures that our plucky (and not very bright heroine) will need to use each coin to save her sister. But will she?

Time Again is a film that is bothersome on several levels. According to the production notes, it’s supposed to be some kind of homage to big budget ’80s action flicks such as Die Hard or Timecop. But even with the best of intentions, a sack of nickels and a Discover card will only get you so far. (In fact, it will only get you Trancers.) Looking very much like a cross between a Lifetime movie and an Asylum/Syfy outing, Time Again is a small, claustrophobic film that isn’t even Trancers 2.

The script, (co-written by director Ray Karwel) is poorly constructed and hinges on the fact that its protagonist learns precious little from each failed attempt to save her sister from harm. Marlo keeps going back to the event, Groundhog Day-style, where her sister is comically shot time and again. After it is revealed that the “magic” of the coins only allows time travel within the confines of the diner and the largely empty office building it resides in, you would think simply pushing her sister out the front door would be an efficient (and mercifully short) solution. Marlo’s continued ineptitude, and that of the woodenheaded detective, makes watching this film a chore.

On the plus side, the tech credits are solid. The lighting, sound and cinematography are efficient. Cinematographer John Rosenberg’s lens effectively frames some of the more dramatic scenes. It has the look, if not the polish, of a typical made-for-cable film. Most of the special effects, including the “time jumps,” are impressive and used sparingly. The editing is also well done, but often attempts to compensate for the lack of budget. There are several quick cuts on an action just before or after a major stunt. These edits are more distracting than helpful.

The performances are passable, if not especially assured, but the script and Karwel's direction leave little for the actors to hold onto. Lead Rachelle is an attractive woman, but doesn’t have the depth to carry an entire feature (even at a short 82-minute running time). Smoker is the stronger of the two actresses, but her character is underwritten and often just as bothersome. Woods, as the inefficient Detective Lym, is best when the script requires some befuddlement on his part, sporadically allowing the audience to identify with something.

Top-billed Evans is a charismatic presence, but unable to rise above the nonsensical motivations of his “bad guy” character. Most curious is the casting of Perreau, the wacky old woman, who was a popular film and television actress for several decades. Apparently, she came out of retirement to cameo as the mysterious and supposedly comedic time traveler. Even with such a sketchy character (whose ultimate identity is obvious and clumsily revealed), she proves to be the best actor involved.

Here is the suggested review tag for the DVD cover: “A monotonous, bothersome low-budget time travel yarn with a cameo from the lively Gigi Perreau.”

Rating: (1.5 out of 5):