Movie Review: Life flies by in Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield romance ‘We Live In Time’

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It’s not difficult to spend a few hours watching Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield fall in love. In “We Live In Time,” filmmaker John Crowley brings the audience up close and personal with this photogenic British couple through the highs and lows of a relationship in their 30s.

Everyone begins to ponder the concept of time, and not having enough of it to accomplish everything they desire, at some point. But it seems to hit a lot of us very acutely in that challenging, beautiful third decade. There’s that cruel biological clock, of course, but also careers and homes and families getting older. Add a cancer diagnosis to the mix and that timer gets ever more aggressive.

While we, and Tobias (Garfield) and Almut (Pugh), do indeed live in the present, as we’re constantly reminded in big and small ways — clocks and stopwatches are ever-present, literally and metaphorically — the movie transcends it. The storytelling jumps back and forth through time like a scattered memory as we piece together these lives that intersect in an elaborate, mystical and darkly comedic way: Almut collides with Tobias with her car. Their first conversation is in a hospital hallway, with those glaring fluorescent lights and him bruised and cut all over. But he’s so captivated by this beautiful woman in front of him, he barely seems to care.

I suppose this could be considered a Lubitschian “meet-cute” even if it intentionally pushes the boundaries of our understanding of that romance trope. Before the incident, Tobias was in a hotel, trying to sign divorce papers and his pens were out of ink and pencils kept breaking. In a fit of near-mania he leaves, wearing only his bathrobe, to go to a convenience store and buy more. Walking back, he drops something in the street and bang: A new relationship is born. It’s the ultimate metaphor for the out-of-body vulnerability required to fall in love.

There are several moments of intense emotion that await both characters, particularly surrounding a baby who is not yet ready to be born — until it finally is, and they're far from the hospital. I won't spoil it, but it's one of the funnier, more emotional, and memorable birth scenes I've ever witnessed on screen. It's one of those scenes where you don't anticipate tears, but there they are.

Speaking of tears, there's a certain expectation, or assumption, that a movie like “We Live In Time” will leave you heartbroken, sobbing uncontrollably. This wasn't my experience. Tear count is not exactly a science, nor a reliable measure of quality: There have been truly bad movies that have had that effect and great ones that haven't. But it did make me wonder why, especially considering how Crowley excelled with “Brooklyn.”

Nick Payne’s screenplay also leaves some aspects to be desired, particularly in its development of Almut. By the age of 34, she is already a Michelin-starred chef and has a past filled with athletic accomplishments that we learn about. Yet, early in her relationship with Tobias, when he asks her about having children, she reacts negatively. Now, there are certainly inappropriate ways to approach this topic with women, but her response felt unnatural, especially considering that it's entirely reasonable for serious couples to discuss this early on. Instead, he is the one who apologizes. Her choices throughout the story are somewhat perplexing and will likely spark discussions after viewing.

The eventual child is also little more than a beautiful prop, lacking any spark or personality. We never see a tantrum, or a need or want from her that doesn’t serve the adult narrative. She is simply a symbol of what will be left behind if Almut does not overcome her cancer.

The primary reason to watch “We Live In Time” is not the expectation of tears or the realities of raising a young child, but rather the subtly moving performances by Pugh and Garfield, who seems to fit seamlessly into the "nice guy" image that is gaining popularity thanks to Adam Brody’s Hot Rabbi . The film is charming, humorous, and sometimes awkward — as other people's relationships often are— and ultimately succeeds due to their performances and their excellent chemistry.

“We Live in Time,” an A24 film released in New York and Los Angeles on Friday and nationwide on October 18, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “language, sexuality and nudity.” The film runs for 107 minutes and receives three out of four stars.