User reviews

The Timer is a small device which told the person who had it attached exactly when he or she will meet their soul mates. Oona, a woman whose mother was desperately relying on the thing, has her timer completely blank since she got it so she spends a lot of time trying to figure out the problem. Meanwhile, fortunately for her, she meets a charming boy, younger than her, which will play an important role in the nearby future.

It's an enjoyable comedy which bases on a pretty interesting concept (the Timer) and presents a bunch of people whose lives are deeply affected by this expensive gizmo. As much as I liked the movie (most of it) I have to say that the finale is simply catastrophic. They ruined it as badly as they could, from a tangled but pretty love story to an unnecessary Timer intervention which makes everything fall apart. Pity, as it could have been a much better movie if it wasn't for that stupid ending

Normally I tend to avoid writing reviews where all that needed to be said has already been said, unless it's a film I feel very attached to. But TiMER is one of those little surprising experiences that really deserve a few words of praise. It's difficult enough bringing forth something original and well written even when it isn't a rom-com.

With an interesting premise - that people can get timers telling them when they will meet their soul mate - the story follows Oona and her sister Steph, who are both nearing their thirties and have yet to find their other halves. Oona, who is to all extents and purposes the main character, goes through a series of lackluster attempts at finding someone who suits her, but the emphasis really is on how her mentality and approach are affected by the awareness that there is a path that needs to be found. When she becomes involved with a young guy, for the sake of it more than anything else, the whole debate around predestination gets a fair questioning in a balanced manner.

It's great to see nicely rounded characters who form a believable and not overly sugarcoated unit and the writing aids the actors tremendously in bringing forth this tale of love, family and family love. The film may have some weaker points, but I reckon its conviction, so to say, pays off in the end. Credit is due to the whole cast and crew for managing a fine idea into something that finds its balance early on and is capable of holding on to it until the end. The satisfaction is only greater when it comes as unexpectedly as this little obscure picture.

I picked this film on Netflix not knowing what it was about. Then I got introduced from the opening scenes to a very interesting concept and was drawn in by an original idea. I don't know if this was done in any other film, but it is the first time that I have seen it in a movie. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The original concept was refreshing and the main character was a lovable girl who was looking for love like many of us. (By the way, for those who didn't remember, she was on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, played Xander's fiancée). Her situation (minus the obvious thing that we don't have access to, at least right now) is quite believable as I know many people in her predicament, searching for someone to love and to spend the rest of their lives with. It is a romantic, dramatic and funny movie that sits well with me and is quite enjoyable to watch.

"What's the point in continuing without a guarantee?"

A device that tells you the exact amount of time it will be until you meet your soulmate seems to be the perfect answer for heartbreak and uncertainty, but it only causes problems for Oona, who has yet to have her timer begin to count down (because the person she is meant to be with, whoever they may be, has yet to get one). This frustration and loneliness leads her to begin a casual relationship with a young man whose timer countdown is set to end in just a few months. A fairly interesting tale unravels from this setup, that brings up questions of destiny and what's better, the person who is right for us or the person we choose. 

A novel premise and thoughtful script from a modern romantic drama? AND a likable protagonist that's not the same caricature we've seen a thousand times (Emma Caulfield gets total credit for pulling that off)? I genuinely liked TiMER, for those reasons and others.

This isn't my usual kind of movie, but it's so well made that I enjoyed it. Genre fans will like it even more.

An interesting concept, in a world where everyone has a timer that tells them when they are going to meet their soul mate. It counts down and will beep once you make eye contact with them. But only when your soul mate gets a timer does yours start counting down.

Our main character Uma's timer has yet to start and kind of countdown. Her sister's timer says that she won't meet her soul mate until she is 40 years old.

The concept is unique and entertaining. It's a fun movie to watch when you just want something simple and pleasant, but done well. This is the movie for you. It's heavier on the Romantic side and less so on the comedy side.

TiMER (2009)

A really fabulous, tightly written, tightly focused movie. It has a smart, sci-fi hook: people can wear a "timer" that predicts when they will meet their true love. This becomes the device around which the really charming, lovable characters play with the idea of true love, and love, and relationship, and the predictability (or not) of all of that. And it is done without a shred of darkness--I mean, it's an upbeat, rose-colored view of this oddly painted future. There's a hint of Juno in the tone, and maybe Sex and the City in the sorting out of relationships by the two main women.

The production, or feel, of things isn't as low budget as you might think given its low budget, but it is filmed with a modern television kind of flatness, or brightness. For all the Big Brother eeriness to it all, the world of these two half sisters and their prospective boyfriends is downright happy. Even the old folks home is a comic paradise, more or less.

What really makes the picture work are the two leading women, who play their upbeat diffidence and sarcasm with wide eyes and cute smiles. Their fast comebacks are razor sharp but never quite slashing. Equal to them but in a smaller role is their chipper mother, a paradigm of American good will wearing blinders. And the one boyfriend, the cute (of course) guy who plays in a band, happily immature, is also spot on. So, with a cast like this of complete unknowns playing their hearts out with delicacy and fearlessness, following a quirky and impossible futuristic notion, you can't help but kick back and laugh.

I went into "TiMER" mainly drawn into the premise, somewhat expecting the film to not live up to what I thought was a brilliant and fascinating concept. But it ended up exceeding my expectations, and I am now completely enamored by this film.

"TiMER" is as close as a film is going to get to being this year's "(500) Days of Summer," in that it's a romantic comedy, but an unconventional one, and one that really comes out and says something (or at least proposes a question or two) about love instead of being two hours of cheesy chick-flick fluff. It's thought-provoking and will give you plenty to discuss with a friend after seeing it, and at the same time it's very enjoyable and entertaining. It's full of truly laugh-out-loud and slightly quirky humor, and it has a couple good twists I didn't see coming.

One other thing I loved about "TiMER" is the characters. Many romantic comedies have the one-dimensional supporting characters who are just there for the sake of filling the role of "main character's bff," etc. But all of the supporting characters in "TiMER" were multi- dimensional and distinctive, and they all had their own stories that I became invested in without detracting from the main focus of Oona's story.

Whether you're looking for the next romantic comedy that strays a bit from the prescribed path, or you're looking to answer the "what if?" this film proposes, or you're just looking for a quality independent film of any sort, "TiMER" will be well worth your time.

Fun and cool idea, promising characters, but with a very questionable ending that gets lost in the direction the film was developing with the characters. As well as missed the chance to convey a nicer/constructive image about the TiMER idea.

In a near future, many people wear a timer implanted in their wrists by matchmakers to find their soul mates and true love. The twenty-nine year-old orthodontist Oona O'Leary (Emma Caulfield) is worried about her future since she cannot find her true love. When she meets the twenty- two year old supermarket cashier and musician Mikey Evers (John Patrick Amedori), his timer shows that they will be together in four months and she falls for him.

Oona lives with her stepsister and best friend Steph Depaul (Michelle Borth) that works as receptionist in a nursing home. When Steph meets the widow Dan (Desmond Harrington) that does not wear a timer, they start seeing each other. Meanwhile Oona finds that Mikey's timer is fake and she is affected by her discovery. The birthday of Oona and Steph is on the same day and their mother Marion Depaul (JoBeth Williams) invites Mikey and Dan to the party. On the eve, Oona and Steph decide to remove the timer, but when Oona is ready to take it of, the timer is activated by someone who has just implanted it. Who could be her soul mate?

"TiMER" is a charming romantic comedy with a different but silly concept, but also flawed with an awful conclusion. The idea would be acceptable in a future or a near future, but even Oona's father had implanted a timer when she was born meaning thirty years ago. The perfect message would be with Oona daring to love Mikey free of her mother's oppression for using the timer and Steph and Dan together. Further, there are several questions raised along the story without answer. For example, has Oone reconciled with her father? Did he like Mikey's CD? What has happened to Steph and how would be her relationship with Oona if she stays with Dan? My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Timer – Contagem Regressiva para o Amor" ("Timer- Countdown to Love)

Its time for producers of Hollywood blockbusters to stand up and take notice! Emma Caulfield makes this movie. Her comic timing is perfect. She is light and bright and shows just the right amount of depth for this part.

She has soooo much more talent and comic ability than big names like Jennifer Aniston and Julia Roberts. They've become so big they've forgotten how to be the character in the movie. These ladies show up and put in uninspired performances - I hestitate to even call them performances. Their movies have become "Julia Roberts stands in front of the camera saying some lines". In Eat, Pray, Love, Julia Roberts was humdrum and boring and ordinary. Resting on her laurels. And honestly, Jennifer Aniston never had Emma Caulfield's comic talent or depth.

Emma Caulfield pulled me into her character - she was totally believable - this is the kind of acting I watch movies for. She actually made an effort and the result is fresh, fun, heartening, entertaining! I want to see more of her.

What an interesting concept for a movie. Society gets so paranoid that they create this "timer" that they stamp into your wrist. It will display a time. When that time zeros out, then the next day you will run into your true love. When you do, both timers will beep. The cast was pretty good. Emma Caulfield did do a decent job. She was serious and she was funny which was a very nice combination for this film. For the most part, the film does keep your attention. But there are points where you do get a little bored. The movie is very interesting as a whole, but it does fail to keep your attention at points. I guess you could say it is more low key. It is not an over the top comedy. John Patrick Amedori was decent in the film, but he couldn't help but get on my nerves. I still have trouble figuring out if it was him or his character doing it. If it was his character, then maybe he is a great actor. So overall, I nice film to watch. At least for the unusual story line.

Some might say that this movie does encapsulate the "Zeitgeist". And it's kinda true. Of course the main idea is very well thought of. And while I was waiting for the movie to begin declining and losing pace on its way, it didn't really. Which is a good thing. On the other hand, that doesn't mean that it was a great movie.

That the main actress was a main actress in a TV Show (Buffy) and had her relationship problems there too, this might be something that will not be the main attraction for most people to watch the movie. And who knows what people will think of this movie in 10 or 20 years. Especially if we move into a direction like this.

Good ideas a bit cliché, but a very good ending (imo)

Finally our clocks have counted down and we have Jac Schaeffer in our lives. Schaeffer has brilliantly written "TiMER" and brought a fantastic romantic comedy into the world.

Sure, all romantic comedies follow the same trend, cute girl wants to meet her soul mate. The poor ones do it with horrible main characters and ridiculously unfunny contrived situations. The somewhat better ones, which we have been forced to accept as good, add comedy and likable characters. But now, we have "TiMER".

This film gives us a couple of characters, all of them are very funny and relatable. And it also adds ingenuity, with an original technological timer to count down to the arrival of our soul mate, and intelligence and even mixes in philosophy. "TiMER" can be enjoyed by everyone, the humour is sweet and appropriate for every age, and for every "thinker" out there, there's a lot for you to over-analyze, and for everyone who doesn't want to think there's enough to enjoy on its surface.

I have said a lot of good things about "TiMER" here and deservedly so because this is a well written romantic comedy (apparently they really do exist!). This film won't climb the ranks into my all time favourite movies because it doesn't evoke too many emotions, but it definitely deserves to be seen and talked about.

The ending to this movie was such a let down. The message is conformity and mindlessness, not to mention disloyalty and self-centered behavior. Wow, what a way to spread the message. I think I'll go read "1984" again. If you want to see an example of a movie that took a startling negative view on independence without seeming to be aware of it this is the one for you. It's actually kind of frightening what the writer and director seemed to think was an acceptable ending. The main character's little show of bravado at the end was useless since she had already capitulated and willingly followed what an electronic pulse dictated over mind/heart. Very disturbing.

By the way if your wondering why I watched it in the first place my 20 year old daughter asked me to because she liked it. After she heard my review of it...not so much anymore.

I attended the World Premiere of "TiMER" at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. This is one of those "sweet little indies" I look for at festivals. They are few and far between but finding a film like this makes it worth the effort.

"TiMER" is, on the face of it, a romantic comedy. But its premise is so original and offbeat -- the film crosses over into the science fiction genre -- that, like the best indies, it's hard to pigeonhole. The basic idea (not a spoiler since this is revealed even before the opening credits) is that an implanted device on a person's wrist counts down to the moment the wearer meets his/her true love. It's based on the notion that everyone has one soulmate out there, somewhere, and each person's timer will go off at precisely the same moment when the fateful meeting takes place.

First-time writer/director Jac Schaeffer's script is smart and brilliantly executed by some of the best actors in the business, including Emma Caulfield ("Beverly Hills, 90210, Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Michelle Borth ("Wonderland"), John Patrick Amedori ("The Butterfly Effect, Stick It, Gossip Girl"), and Desmond Harrington ("Wrong Turn, Dexter").

Emma Caulfield's poignant performance leads the way as the orthodontist Oona, who shares a uniquely powerful bond with stepsister Steph. This gives Steph a private window into Oona's true vulnerability. Caulfield is simply angelic, with a light that shines from within. Steph is a slightly domesticated punk girl, with an acerbic wit to match. Enter John Patrick Amedori as Mikey. To Oona, he appears as a shallow, uneducated supermarket checker with a hopeless future. Mikey is like an unruly dog who's outgrown his puppy years while retaining the innocence of youth which is undeniably appealing to Oona. Amedori wins the comedy award hands down, with the film's funniest lines and the ability to do more with inappropriate facial expressions than any dialogue could. Those expressions elicited the biggest laughs from the festival audiences. Desmond Harrington plays Dan the Man, buttoned-down and well-meaning, with a slightly brash exterior that can be endearing when he makes the effort. The talented supporting cast couldn't be better. Watch for Hayden McFarland as younger brother Jesse, who won the affection of the audience with some of the most heartfelt scenes in the movie.

The dialogue is often hilarious with an authenticity that not only comes from Schaeffer's brilliant script but also from improvised moments between Caulfield and Amedori. Their unlikely relationship and on screen presence is simply magical.

Production values belie the film's low budget. The look is warm and welcoming, with soft lighting and a palette of colors evocative of a stack of fresh linens. Andrew Kaiser's soundtrack sets just the right tone as the opening credits roll, using a theme crafted out of the melodies found in old music boxes and windup clocks. The film is shot by cinematographer Harris Charalambous in a similar fashion, as though each scene, each shot, matches the ticking of a timepiece. Combined with Peter Samet's efficient editing, the pace of the film keeps its timing appropriately consistent.

From the opening shot of a parking meter face, to the numbers on Oona's alarm clock, to the timer signaling that her morning coffee is ready, the film hammers home the message that clocks rule our lives. We rely on these mechanisms to determine our every move. In "TiMER's" alternative universe -- the film actually takes place in a "what if?" present rather than the future -- the question is asked, "what if timers ruled our love lives, too?" Would you obey the predetermined destiny of the device or would you follow your heart?

A quirky anti-romantic comedy that, while I really enjoyed for the most part, lost a star due to the final third, where apart from borrowing from 500 Days of Summer, this is not what lovers of romantic comedies want. It needed that Pretty Woman style ending.

While the above review would say that this movie was somewhat inspiring, I would tend to disagree. Timer is a movie which promises to challenge the stereotype of one person for everyone, but in the end re-enforces it. There really isn't one person for everyone, and I was hoping that the movie would relate this to the audience, but the ending was flat and awful.

The main character falls for a complete stranger after having a wonderful time with a perfectly wonderful younger man. (nope, not buying it). What this says and tries to re-enforce to us as an audience is that we should all date our own age, and anything other isn't the right person for us.

Examples Her father has a timer but it isn't synced with the woman he's living with (much younger than him) Her mother and step-father both have timers and they are the same age.

She is 30 and her love interest is 22, the timer doesn't think they should be together.

She and her sister's love interest both have timers that sync and they are roughly the same age.

Their younger brother is 14 and his timer goes off seeing another 14 year old girl.

I was, for the most part, completely into this movie before the ending. It was well acted and had some great ideas. But, it turns out there is no enlightenment at all, just the same old society influenced bullshit, one person for you, the same age as you, and there's no one else for you.

Bottom line, this movie is just a huge let down. Maybe it was my fault for wanting it to be deeper and have a more meaningful ending. But no, it's just the same old crap you've seen before.

Don't waste your time with this one, it's a huge let down.