Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009)

40% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
58% of users liked it
(51,427 ratings)

After cutting his teeth on a number of television projects for the BBC, director Gareth Carrivick makes his feature debut with this off-beat sci-fi comedy. A normal trip to the pub turns into anything but for a trio of mild-mannered blokes (Chris O'Dowd, Marc Wootan and Dean Lennox Kelly) when a… More After cutting his teeth on a number of television projects for the BBC, director Gareth Carrivick makes his feature debut with this off-beat sci-fi comedy. A normal trip to the pub turns into anything but for a trio of mild-mannered blokes (Chris O'Dowd, Marc Wootan and Dean Lennox Kelly) when a woman from the future (Scary Movie's Anna Faris) shows up and plunges them into a predicament involving space and time. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Gareth Carrivick
Written By: Jamie Mathieson
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 16, 2009 Wide
Studio: Picturehouse

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, About.com
...an amiable, well-meaning bit of escapist sci-fi...
Edward Porter, Sunday Times (UK)
There are some good ideas, but I was disappointed not to get an ending that pieced everything together into a satisfying chain of events. The film provokes questions, all right, but too many are left unanswered.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
Through no particular fault of the performers, it is pointless, perfunctory and painfully unfunny.
, Sunday Mail [UK]
While entertaining, this feels like it belongs on TV.
Simon Reynolds, Digital Spy
Overcoming a limited budget with imagination and charismatic characters, it's a minor miracle to see a British movie take on a subject matter monopolised by Hollywood and emerge on level terms.
Chris Prince, Sky Movies
A good effort, but ultimately one that may have been more suited to a TV special than a fully-fledged feature, FAQ... is like that geeky friend you really want to like - if only they'd sort out their BO problem and stop talking about Deep Space Nine.
Jane Crowther, Total Film
An undercooked, rapidly unravelling script, low-grade production values (is that the best future costume you have?), plodding direction and an apologetically crap ending are not worth the price of a cinema ticket in these belt-tightening times.
Daniel Etherington, Film4
While it doesn't quite achieve the same standards as its recent forebears in British genre comedy, this modest film has amiable, convoluted charm.
Philip Wilding, Empire Magazine
Refreshingly, director Carrivick's feature debut is both dark, compelling and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny.
Tom Huddlestone, Time Out
While hardly groundbreaking, this is smart, amusing post-pub viewing.
Dominic Wells, Times [UK]
Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel is, unashamedly, a Mini Cooper of a film: small but nippy.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
This is the worst film of the week, a dire British comedy, to which the only honest response is to soil and then set fire to the Union flag in the foyer of your local cinema.
Alexander Pashby, Little White Lies
What do you get if you take Shaun Of The Dead, subtract the zombies and add time travel? Sadly, not Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel.
Mark Adams, Sunday Mirror [UK]
This engaging comedy feels like a stretched-out TV pilot, but is nicely put together, with enough laughs to make a refreshing change from usual Brit film fare..
, Sun Online
A British "comedy" which is stuck in the past, a time when someone mixing up Star Wars and Star Trek was a gag.
Karl French, Financial Times
The film resembles nothing so much as an indifferent and wildly over-stretched episode of space sitcom Red Dwarf.
Anthony Quinn, Independent
One or two amusing moments, but not sustainable for 90 minutes.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Enjoyable comedy with likeable characters, several witty one-liners and an engaging plot, but you can't help feeling they could have done a lot more with the premise.
Robbie Collin, News of the World
Sub-Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy rubbish.
Alistair Harkness, Scotsman
"HOW hard can it be to make a film that doesn't suck?" asks bitter wannabe-screenwriter Toby early on. Anyone stumbling out of this latest Britcom would be forgiven for wondering the same thing, given that it sucks like a black hole.

Read all 20 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

John M

If only bar trips here were as much fun as this trios trip to the pub. A quirky sci fi comedy that throws all the time travel mix ups out there. Its a fun romp wont be disappointed if you dont expect some hollywood blockbuster.
Sophie B

Brilliant on all levels. With a great cast and a fantastic story, Carrivick made a funny and involving film that captures you from the beginning and keeps ahold of you well after the film has finished. With a bigger budget it would most certainly have been better and more imaginative… More
Brilliant on all levels. With a great cast and a fantastic story, Carrivick made a funny and involving film that captures you from the beginning and keeps ahold of you well after the film has finished. With a bigger budget it would most certainly have been better and more imaginative and this would be perfect for a sequel.
Anthony L

A brilliant concept wasted by silly mistakes, inexperience and probably a tight budget. A great film but it should have been something amazing. Give it a go though, it's a lot of fun!
Film C

wow wot a shit movie! not even funny which is surprising when it has two comedians in this movie, its not funny the story is just boring and a bit repeatative with a tidious storyline to be honest not worth the watch at all!
Lesley N

If SHAUN OF THE DEAD was an British primer in dealing with zombies, then FAQ ABOUT TIME TRAVEL is a British primer in dealing with the conundrums and paradoxes of time travel. Three nerds (two of them sci-fi fans) discover a portal to the past, present and future in the Gents in their… More
If SHAUN OF THE DEAD was an British primer in dealing with zombies, then FAQ ABOUT TIME TRAVEL is a British primer in dealing with the conundrums and paradoxes of time travel. Three nerds (two of them sci-fi fans) discover a portal to the past, present and future in the Gents in their local pub, and after the chaos generated from their first travellings, attempt to undo the damage and still get back in time for last orders. 90% of the action happens in the pub (or rather in the pub toilets) so it feels a little like an extended episode of Spaced, but at 70+minutes long it doesn't outstay its welcome as an enjoyable funny low-budget romp.
Nicolas K

The idea was quite good but the result was so dissapointing. I love British humour and in fact Chris O'Dowd is hillarious in the IT Crowd. But this is a film full of holes in the script, lazy acting and unsipired direction.
Quinto W

I liked the concept a lot, and I love, love, love Chris O'Dowd, but the movie feels mostly flat and unfunny. A couple of chucky and inspired moments are lost in a sea of forgetfulness.