Ruth and Megan jointly own 'Cha Cha Cha', a vintage shop in the north London suburb of Muswell Hill. They have significantly improved the quality of stock for sale by coming across a discarded time machine (a sort of fairground bumper car with extra wires attached) which they use to visit - and plunder from - various periods of history, from Neolithic Britain to the Napoleonic battles and the American Civil War.
Their activities draw the attention of Martin Onions (Guy Henry), chairman of the local science society (a sort of gathering of failed inventors), who forbids them from using the machine because of its potential space/time side effects. It was originally developed by two other members of the society, Ralph Sheldrake (Brian Bovell) and Valerie Lancaster (Sophie Thompson) who, with their cantankerous computer assistant 'Botty' (Johnny Vegas), co-hosted a popular TV science show back in the 1980s, 'The Future Today'. But the machine malfunctioned, and Ralph inexpertly disposed of it; which is where Ruth and Megan came in.
Short of money, pressurised for rent by their horrible landlord (Simon Killick) and contrary to Martin's direction, the shop owners resume their time travelling activities. But things go wrong during one of the trips and Megan is thrown into another dimension; it's left for the science society and Ruth to work together to retrieve the shop owner.
The reason for recounting some of the plot of the movie so blandly is to explain the context. For Ruth Syratt and Megan Stevenson both lead the movie. But they're actually the owners of 'Cha Cha Cha', which is a real shop in Muswell Hill. That the pair, as non actors, make such engaging and funny leads is amazing in itself. That the film in which they act is a hilarious, inventive sci fi comedy makes TTiD! a real find.
In the same way that Ruth and Megan plunder history, Chris Reading borrows influences to give his feature a familiar feel. An explanatory voice over by Stephen Fry is reminiscent of Peter Jones's narration in the TV version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Event Horizon gets a look in too. Ruth and Megan are complemented by a host of British comedy stalwarts; as well as the aforementioned Henry, Bovell, Thompson and Vegas, other familiar faces include Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Jane Horrocks, Mark Heap and Brian Blessed as the voice of a plant creature called Gavin the Octopus.
The special effects, although sparsely used, are incredibly effective for a film of, I'm assuming, slender budget, which remarkably also contains a number of lavish 'scenes from history'. There's a sumptuous score by Simon Porter which sneaks in several cinematic nods, including Alien, within its themes. While the pace can occasionally lag a little, and there's arguably too much quirk for it to be completely satisfying, TTiD! is a fabulous romp and I guarantee the first time you'll see owners of a second hand shop fronting a mainstream - or indeed any - movie.
Time Travel is Dangerous! opens in UK cinemas on 28 March 2025.
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