“Why are you filming this?” and “How has that shirt not been washed?” are two of many questions you’re likely to ask in this plot-hole-digging, found-footage sci-fi about tech-savvy teens who discover plans to build a time machine. When the ‘hot chick’ stumbles onto what they’ve been doing, she reckons they should skip the testing precautions and use the device on themselves. Thanks to raging hormones and adolescent dumb-assery, they oblige.
This is not a clever film, but it’s not-clever from the get-go and remains not-clever for all 100 minutes of the running time, so at least it’s consistent. But this kind of ‘leave your brain at the door’ film is only excusable if there’s enough fun to be had in the premise. This is where Project Almanac almost finds success.
As with 2012’s Chronicle, the film’s best moments see the high-schoolers simply screwing around with their new world-changing power. They contemplate killing Hitler, but settle for rigging the lottery and messing with the heads of bullies instead. Their immaturity is amusingly relatable and the young actors do well to energise these scenes without being annoying – except for Sam Lerner. (Imagine Miles Teller at his most obnoxious. Now give him two heads.)
These moments are disappointingly sparse however, and when the lacklustre climax takes us all the way back to the ancient era of 2004, it becomes abundantly clear that this film was never meant for anyone over the age of 17. If you’re in the target demographic, ignore the star rating and you’ll probably have a good time with Project Almanac. For everyone else, consider this a warning from the future.
