I’m always fascinated by stories about time travel, and I have a soft spot for mockumentaries. Time Travel Is Dangerous merges these two concepts, making the premise quite exciting. Besties Ruth and Megan run a vintage store called ChaChaCha in Muswell Hill, London. One day, they find what appears to be a discarded bumper car (similar to the electric ones you see at amusement parks) in a dumpster, which turns out to be a time-traveling device. It’s like they’ve hit the jackpot, so they begin using it to find new items for their shop, and of course, that bumper car machine is a fantastic boon for their business, as they can source pretty much anything from any era.

It kicks off in a really funny way with Ruth Syratt and Megan Stevenson sporting these hilariously deadpan mannerisms during their interviews. Directed by Chris Reading, who co-wrote the script with sisters Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare and Hillary Shakespeare (of the Shakespeare Sisters company), this British sci-fi comedy blends surreal humor and a droll cautionary tale about meddling with time. With Stephen Fry narrating, the mockumentary style highlights the dry British wit and the sheer absurdity of the whole situation. Even if I occasionally struggle to catch their working-class Cockney accent, I still find their chat quite amusing. Apparently, the ChaChaCha vintage shop actually exists in North London, and is owned by Ruth and Megan.

The two besties are pretty reckless with their new time machine, and their constant hopping around in time ends up causing some unintended damage to the universe (maybe the creators took a cue from the Loki series?). The first part was really fun, but it starts to get messy and aimless after the halfway mark. The local science club with a mouthful name, Technology Engineering Scientific Thought and Innovation Society (TESTIS), catches wind of their time-traveling escapades and warns the two that, well, time travel is indeed dangerous. It then turns into a rescue mission when Megan somehow gets lost in this weird netherworld called The Unreason. There are too many subplots here; there’s even some drama between former TV hosts (Brian Bovell and Johnny Vegas) that adds to the chaos.

I really wish they’d spend more time on the time-traveling adventure of these two best friends, but the scenes where they go back in time feel way too rushed. I would have loved to see more of their interactions with people from different eras, even all the way back to the Middle Ages. They even steal some weapons when they land in the middle of a Medieval battle. It would’ve been hilarious to watch them try to get back to the bumper car or try to fit all the items, including the massive Medieval sword, into it.

That said, this is an amiable and fun movie with a deliberately 80s vibe and a rousing soundtrack, a la Back To The Future with a dollop of Terry Gilliam. You can definitely see the budget constraints, but the cheesy graphics and quirky campiness add to its charm. I found myself laughing the hardest when Ruth and Megan were on screen together; their oddball personalities remind me of Edina and Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous, though not quite as stylish. Fans of British films/TV might recognize some familiar faces, such as Jane Horrocks, Guy Henry, Sophie Thompson, and Brian Blessed in supporting roles, and of course, Fry’s voice is unmistakable.

Although Time Travel Is Dangerous may not be considered one of the top time-travel films, it offers a zany and fun diversion from mainstream cinema. In a world overflowing with polarizing and grim news, sometimes all you need is a good laugh for an hour and a half.

This movie is now available on all major digital platforms

Have you seen TIME TRAVEL IS DANGEROUS? What’s your favorite time-travel movie(s)?