Project Almanac Review
PG13: Sexual Content, and Language
Paramount Pictures, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, Platinum Dunes
1 hr and 46 Minutes
Cast: Jonny Weston, Sofia Black-D' Elia, Allen Evangelista, Sam Lerner, Virginia Gardner
Editor’s Note: This review was originally published during my adolescence. Outdated language might be seen in these old posts. Since then, my thoughts and values have grown. This review is being presented as they were originally written, grammatical errors and typos and all. Because to do otherwise would be that same as claiming these flaws has never existed.
BACKSTORY: Wednesday January 28th, I'm ready to bash on this film in the theater. What? a Micheal Bay produced movie where it was delayed one full year and dump it in January? OH YEAH YOU'RE GONNA BE A PIECE OF SHIT! Then coming out of it, I'm shaking top to bottom surprised, shocked, and appalled that I really like Project Almanac.
STORYLINE: In the style of found footage (cause why not?) a group of friends discover plans for a time machine, they build it and use it to fix their problems and personal gain. But as the future falls apart with disasters, and each of them disappear little by little, they must travel back to the past to make sure they never invent the machine or face the destruction of humanity.
REVIEW: It's like the filmmakers had a shit movie on the forefront and before the release, they decided to do some punch ups and fix everything they got and make that 1 year delay useful. For what it is worth, you gotta admit the found footage usage in this film is really good. Unlike movies such as Earth to Echo and Project X the found footage used in this film is essential to the plot like Chronicle.Though it does go on forever and makes you a bit dizzy, the style was a good choice to tell the story. I All the characters in this film are likable and have their own comedic moments. You feel you're following real teens that want to fix their old mistakes than over exaggerated teen actors. The main problem with this film was the marketing where they show you the whooooooole movie and spoils the ending. Sometimes it's hard to be surprised with a movie you already saw the trailer for that spoils itself, but sometimes it's the journey that makes you overlook it. Unfortunately the movie makes a gigantic stop of being an MTV movie concert, where the characters are at Lalapalooza and starts to drag it's story. The sequence is a huge plot point but spends too much time getting to it.
LAST STATEMENT: Though Project Almanac have some pandering moments and a predictable plot, the use of found footage and it's likeable characters makes the film a fun and entertaining film.
Rating: 3.5/5| 78%
Super Scene: "Let's Groundhog Day this Bitch"
