Project Almanac | Movie Review

What if you were a certified genius? Then, by some intriguing coincidence, you stumbled upon the beginnings of a time machine that you and your friends were able to complete? What would you do? Right the wrongs of all those around you? Redo every misstep in your life along the way? Maybe just get another shot at one missed opportunity?  ‘Project Almanac’ takes a look at all of these options, as well as the repercussions from messing with fate’s plan.

The problem with director Dean Israelite’s ‘Almanac’, is that none of it really makes sense when everything is said and done. Time travel is always a tricky premise, but when you firmly establish rules to that universe and you play blind and broad with those very same rules, you will lose any audience forgiveness you had to start with.

For example, our heroes (led by David, a strong young actor by the name of Johnny Weston) repeatedly venture back to the same moment in time to change the course of one of their test results. Yet something as huge as screwing up winning the lottery is not worth a repeat. It makes no sense whatsoever. There are deeper examples, but that would be venturing a bit too close to spoilers.

Lastly, ‘Project Almanac’ is in found footage style, for absolutely no reason at all. There are times where it is insanely ludicrous that anyone is holding that camera, and others where you have to wonder WHO is holding the camera. Found footage can be a strong gimmick in the right film, ‘Project Almanac’ is about as wrong an option as you can get.

Some decent acting cannot save the awful plot and gimmicky direction of ‘Project Almanac’. Save yourself some time and relive Back To the Future some more. If you MUST watch it in found footage style, there is always the option of shaking your TV. A broken television is still more enjoyable than this project.

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider