We Live In Time
By Sioph W. Leal
Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias’ (Andrew Garfield) meet after a quick, surprise encounter brings them together, and we see their lives unfold. They are perfect together despite their different careers and what they want out of life, but they find a way to be together and see their decades-spanning story through a non-linear narrative that acts as revisiting memories that give a warm look into their lives.
When Almut accidentally runs over almost divorced Tobias, their lives are entwined as We Live in Time takes us through a non-linear montage of their lives, starting with Almut receiving the news of a cancer diagnosis. Their time is limited, but their relationship feels naturally paced, as if they fit together perfectly thanks to touching performances by Pugh and Garfield. In this movie we see their relationship build and the trials they face, from differing wants out of life to cancer. Despite this, we are never really in their turmoil; even the times when Almut’s cancer is shown via nosebleeds and vomit, it does not really show much of their struggle. They have it easy, and you cannot help but root for them due to the charming nature of the leads.
The none-linear approach with performances from Pugh and Garfield make this movie watchable and can draw you in with both aspects doing all the heavy lifting for an otherwise generic and weak script and story that relies more on their chemistry than anything else. Sometimes the leads are almost too friendly than they are romantic, but it is easily forgiven with how at ease the two are with each other. Both Pugh and Garfield pull through and make the characters' relationship believable due to this, and it is a nice, easy chemistry that drives the story. This is only helped by the non-linear jumping back and forth because we see their relationship for what it will be: in love and with a family. It helps push that chemistry from friendly to romantic in an easy, natural way that makes the intimate moments feel genuine.
As charming as the leads are, the narrative is bland, and without them, it would be another generic script that does its best to garner tears that comes across a little too forced in many situations throughout the movie. It's as if it is trying to be a cosy film full of feelings but really wants you to cry. The problem is that the characters are just so boring, and so is the script. Even though it starts with the fatal diagnosis, you can tell exactly how the story will go no matter how the movie goes in and out of time. The extra effort it takes to be a tearjerker is too much that it comes off as tired and hollow. The characters do not help. There are funny moments between them, but there is nothing other than their chemistry, which hooks you in and makes you want to see it. On top of it, there is no struggle despite the serious theme of cancer.
Almut ignores her doctor's request to take it easy during chemotherapy so she can take part in a prestige cooking competition and win so that her daughter can look back after she is gone to say her mom fought something and won. It is a nice sentiment but comes too late, and there’s unnecessary secrecy around it, treated as if she would not have the support from Tobias yet when he finds out he is, rightfully angry, but supports her. She does not want to be forgotten, but it comes too late and was not part of the story until too late. If we would have seen some of this drive in the different times shown, it would have had more of an impact, but it falls flat. It is an easy watch with some interesting moments but nothing to make you invested in the story.