‘Time Travel Is Dangerous!’ is a delightful yet imperfect British sci-fi comedy that mixes absurdity with a generous dose of nostalgia. Directed by Chris Reading and co-written by sisters Anna-Elizabeth and Hillary Shakespeare, the film follows real-life best friends Ruth (Ruth Syratt) and Megan (Megan Stevenson) as they run a vintage bric-a-brac shop in Muswell Hill, London. Their otherwise mundane life is flipped upside down when they stumble upon a time machine, using it to snatch quirky relics from various historical eras to stock their shelves. Their casual plundering of history leads to unintended consequences that spiral out of control, jeopardizing both the timeline and reality.
The film uses a mock documentary format to capture British comedy’s dry humor and deadpan charm. This allows Ruth and Megan’s time-traveling antics to feel spontaneous and humorously misguided. From pillaging ancient Visigoth villages to swiping items from Napoleonic France, each journey plays out with the chaotic energy of an amateur heist. Although the mockumentary style isn’t the freshest approach, it’s used effectively here, giving a front-row seat to the duo’s quirky friendship and comically reckless attitude toward time and space.
The film’s playful use of special effects shines, relying on Eighties-inspired practical effects that perfectly match its retro vibe. With clunky gadgets, VHS-filtered video glitches, and oddball sound effects, the film feels like a throwback to an era when sci-fi could be both low-budget and charming. The effects are far from polished, but their quirky, DIY quality adds to the film’s offbeat personality, enhancing the sense of adventure.
A cast of oddball supporting characters rounds out the film’s charm, from a historian who believes Ruth and Megan’s “relics” might rewrite history to a time-machine repairman who seems as bewildered by his work as anyone else. These characters offer hilarious, if sometimes perplexing, detours that add to the mockumentary’s unpredictable structure, helping to flesh out the strange world that Ruth and Megan are navigating.
While ‘Time Travel Is Dangerous!’ doesn’t aspire to be a tightly plotted sci-fi thriller, its laid-back approach keeps it from taking itself too seriously. Yet, after one excursion too many, an interdimensional fissure opens, pulling Megan into “The Unreason”—a surreal, nightmarish realm where she’s trapped in an endless game. Here, the stakes feel higher, and Ruth is forced to confront the repercussions of their carefree time-tampering. Though not fully fleshed out, the rescue mission adds an emotional layer and turns their lighthearted adventure into something with real heart.
‘Time Travel Is Dangerous!’ is far from perfect. The pacing sometimes drags, and the plot occasionally meanders, leaving certain elements underdeveloped. However, its imperfections are part of its charm, as the film never tries to be more than a fun, chaotic romp. Syratt and Stevenson’s real-life friendship shines through, grounding the story with an authentic warmth that makes up for some of its rough edges.
‘Time Travel Is Dangerous!’ may not hit every mark, but it’s a joyously unpredictable journey through time and friendship. It captures the thrill of spontaneous adventure and reminds viewers that while perfection isn’t always possible, a great time with friends can be more than enough—even if it means risking the entire time-space continuum.