Somewhere in Time

A charming, witty, passionate romantic drama about a love transcending space and time, Somewhere In Time is an old-fashioned film in the best sense of that term. Which means it's carefully crafted, civilized in its sensibilities, and interested more in characterization than in shock effects.

Jeannot Szwarc does well in the director's chair, and Jean-Pierre Dorleac deserves special commendation for his costumes. But Seymour is given too little to do, and Reeve does too much.

Somewhere in Time is a glossy, flossy and intermittently interesting piece of kitsch which, with more sensitive craftsmanship, could have been one of the more dazzling screen romances of the year. It's too bad that it's held down by its more overt commercial impulses. [7 Oct 1980, p.1]

The whole movie is so solemn, so worshipful toward its theme, that it's finally just silly.

The screenplay is priceless (funny) and it's Mr. Reeve who sets the film's tone. Unfortunately, his unshadowed good looks, granite profile, bright naivete and eagerness to please - the qualities that made him such an ideal Superman - look absurd here.

The manner in which the writer, Richard Matheson, and Jeannot Szwarc, in his glory days the director of Jaws II, conspire to tell the story should not only render the audience tearless, but speechless as well. [11 Oct 1980, p.E7]

Director Jeannot Szwarc strains hard for spectacular visual effects, though he's barely able to compose a competent close-up.

A beautiful love story filmed at the famed Grand Hotel. Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeves are both amazing in this timeless classic!!

This is one of the most romantic movies I have ever seen and I've seen thousands of them. The performances are excellent but it is the story and screenplay that stand out, and especially the wonderful musical score that accompanies it. Those with a romantic heart will shed some tears, these are happy tears. It has romance, tension, drama, suspense, and will get the intense attention from any romantic. I highly recommend this, it's one of my top 20 movies of all time. Christopher Plummer gives an excellent performance, but it is Christopher Reeve who works magic to create his role. I just love it!

Occasionally touching fantasy romance film carried by the strengths of its production budget and Hollywood star casting. Sadly some of the "romantic" scenes feel different and show their age in 2026 but do the job nonetheless. The pacing is pretty terrible. The first time we are introduced to Jane Seymour's character is 45 minutes into the film. It's a shame so much emphasis was given to Reeve's character's obsession into time travel and researching his target as it does come off as stalker esque and a little goofy. Negatives aside, the film is shot well and some of the lines are quite touching. I often felt as I watched that James Cameron must've taken inspiration from this as I was often reminded of the interactions between his characters and the ones seen here (I'm particular the time periods shown and the different cliques and barriers preventing the lovers from connecting). Ultimately I found it hasn't aged well but provided entertainment as I was in the mood!

A love story transcends time and beyond, what if you and your significant other are not in the same timeline? SOMEWHERE IN TIME tells a tale of this sort, Chicago 1972, a budding playwright Richard Collier (Reeve) receives a pocket watch from an old lady he has never met before, who asks him “come back to me”. 8 years later, Richard found out she was a famous stage Actress Elise McKenna, and passed away the night they met. Obsessed with her portrait in Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, Richard opts for self-hypnosis to time-travel to 1912, when young Elise (Seymour) is going to perform in the theatre of the hotel. read the rest of the review in my blog, simply google: cinema omnivore

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]