Awkward, absurd, and eccentrically whimsy.
There’s a scrappy, endearing charm to Time Travel is Dangerous, a British mockumentary that blends deadpan humour with lo-fi sci-fi adventure. Directed by Chris Reading and co-written with Anna-Elizabeth and Hillary Shakespeare, it’s a playful mash-up of The Office-style awkwardness, Shaun of the Dead absurdity, and the eccentric whimsy of Time Bandits. The result? A quirky, low-budget delight that wears its influences on its sleeve but still feels entirely original.
Real-life vintage shop owners Ruth Syratt and Megan Stevenson star as fictionalised versions of themselves, running their struggling Muswell Hill shop, Cha Cha Cha. Their luck changes when they discover a time machine disguised as a souped-up dodgem car abandoned by the bins. Instead of using it for grand adventures, they plunder the past for rare antiques to sell in their shop – essentially turning time travel into a cosmic car boot sale.
Naturally, their suspiciously authentic stock catches the attention of TESTIS – the Technology Engineering Scientific Thought and Innovation Society – a local group of bumbling inventors led by the hilariously pedantic Martin (Guy Henry). The society’s founder, Ralph (Brian Bovell), a former presenter of the fictional TV show The Future Today, warns the duo against messing with the space-time continuum. Unsurprisingly, Ruth and Megan ignore him, leading to a catastrophic tear in reality. They accidentally open a portal to The Unreason – a surreal dimension of lost things and forgotten people, including Jane Horrocks’ flamboyant Aviator, Mark Heap’s befuddled Dandy, and a giant tentacled octopus voiced by Brian Blessed.
The mockumentary format gives the film its biggest laughs, with Stephen Fry’s wry narration adding to the comedic charm. Faux TV segments featuring Johnny Vegas as the delightfully clunky robot Botty are a highlight, perfectly capturing the awkwardness of old-school educational programmes. However, the format becomes a bit wobbly as the plot expands into more ambitious sci-fi territory, occasionally straining the film’s internal logic.
Visually, the film leans into its homemade aesthetic, with deliberately cheesy vortex graphics and charmingly lo-fi practical effects. It’s a loving nod to classic British sci-fi, evoking the DIY feel of vintage Doctor Who.
At its heart, though, Time Travel is Dangerous is a story about friendship. Syratt and Stevenson’s natural chemistry gives the film a genuine warmth, capturing the chaotic energy and affection of two best friends stumbling through life (and time) together. Their bickering and banter feel authentic, adding a sweet emotional core to the wacky premise.
While it sometimes feels more like a series of sketches than a fully cohesive film, Time Travel is Dangerous is funny and imaginative, brimming with eccentric British charm. It’s an offbeat, genre-hopping adventure that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable watch.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FILM DETAILS
Theatrical Release Date: 28th March 2025
TL;DR: Best friends Ruth and Megan run a vintage shop in Muswell Hill. When they stumble across a time machine, it occurs to them that stock is much cheaper if they ‘borrow’ from the past - well, it’s free. They don't want to change history or rob banks, they just want to find a nice Victorian lamp or authentic 80s bum bag without getting sucked into the hellish time-space vortex that is “the Unreason”. The thing is, Time Travel Is Dangerous.
Director: Chris Reading
Cast: Johnny Vegas, Jane Horrocks, Stephen Fry
Genres: Comedy
Run time: 99 minutes
Cert: 15
📸 Strike Media Ltd