directed by:
Jeff Haas written by: Jeff Haas genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy |
“The stability of space, time, and all existence is at stake.” No pressure. Let’s get one thing straight before we even get into the nitty-gritty here - this is a seriously cool lookin’ animated film! Writer/Director Jeff Haas has put together a compelling story that immediately generates interest & intrigue, but visually he’s matched this writing with an animation style that’s truly fun to watch. Essentially, it’s designed to be endearing, stimulating, and visually entertaining.
“Time Keeper” has a somewhat multiverse feel as it presents its storyline, with our wind-up hero having to travel to four independent zones to repair the clock that controls everything. As we begin to tap into the plotline, you’ll see that “Time Keeper” has its eye on the prize pretty quickly, showing us an enjoyable film for sure, but also showcasing a dimension that would easily work as a crossover for a video game with its puzzle-like scenes. For example, in the first zone that our intrepid hero goes to, he practically has to make a quick, improvised Rube Goldberg machine in order to be able to make the repairs he needs to. It’s fun to figure it out with him, though, and I feel like that’s the part of “Time Keeper” that will have real appeal to the viewers out there. Kids are so advanced these days that I’m sure they’ll be watching this movie and know how to put the pieces together in the right way long before the mechanics of my brain can do it. “Anything beyond simple maintenance is beyond me” - amen, my robot friend, I hear ya on that…I can barely microwave a meal successfully. Our little wind-up protagonist, known as Tick Tock, is fearless though…he was born to fix things, and that’s exactly what makes him happy. It’s what gives him purpose in life, and we all benefit from living a life with some tangible direction to it. As he navigates different places and tasks, “Time Keeper” continually gives the younger generation something to think about as it navigates between its storyline and puzzle-themed games like Portal. With Tick Tock being mute and unable to talk, we have many of the details filled in by surrounding characters like The Guardian, RJ, and Shorty, but credit where credit is due, it’s the work of Haas and how he’s chosen to show us this story that keeps us putting the details together on a visual level just as much as anything you’re likely to hear along the way. When Tick Tock ends up in a new space or room, you can see the world as he sees it, and you know there’s a way to get from point A to point B if you put the puzzle together in just the right way to activate the portals. If you’ve got the kind of mind that can see things five steps ahead of the rest of us, then this movie is for you! Now, it’s important to note that I’m at least a few trips around the sun beyond my childhood years at this particular point in time, but I’m pretty confident that Haas has made a film that parents would enjoy nearly as much as their kids will. I don’t know if that means everything completely works, but I feel like, for the most part, this plotline clicks together solidly, and the majority of the characters are very likable. Especially the main character, and I mean, when it comes right down to it, the success of “Time Keeper” really does come down to its viewers appreciating and liking Tick Tock as this story’s hero. Ultimately, I didn’t feel like that’ll be a problem at all…Tick Tock is cute, and his wordless way about him is charming. In contrast, however, you’ve got the bumbling nature of Shorty, who basically represents the all-knowing kind of misinformed male personality we’ve all run into several times in life, and then there’s the overtly antagonistic RJ, who could use a lesson or two on how to go about making friends. Those supporting characters might end up being debated by the families watching it…I could see both Shorty and RJ’s personalities being a hit with some & not with others, but at the end of the day, they are still important to the overall plotline and how “Time Keeper” moves along from scene to scene. In life, we all end up meeting a person or two that might annoy us a little bit, and so too is that true within the robot realm. If there is a criticism to be levelled against “Time Keeper,” I suppose it could be that you’ll see a few moments along the way that offer some extended silence as the animated team of heroes tries to figure out the puzzles in the plotline. I’m not entirely convinced that’s a bad thing, though…if anything, I felt like that might directly lead to giving the little ones watching trying to figure this all out an opportunity to do exactly that, before it’s all spelled out for them. So in a way, that same silence that might feel out of place could prove to be an advantage in the long run for the way that kids will watch “Time Keeper.” Other than that, I think the only thing that might be debated is how much time is spent making this a hybrid experience between what we see and what’s still being set up for the video game yet to come. I still think we need to give that a little credit for being smart, too, though…today’s world isn’t about just creating a singular experience, so much as it is about creating a brand, an IP, and sequels of all kinds. In that respect, I felt like “Time Keeper” sets itself up for Tick Tock to have many adventures in the future.
There is a really crucial twist that occurs with about a third of the movie still to go, where “Time Keeper” reveals its most adversarial character was one that we thought we could trust all along. The team of heroes is going to need to dig deep if they’re going to be successful in their mission now that they’ve got an established villain to battle against. With the advantage of its own multiverse theory, which allows it to visit multiple timelines to achieve its objectives, Tick Tock still has a chance to save the day, once and for all. I know that some folks have all kinds of opinions on the writing involved with multiple timelines and/or universes & such, but personally, I’ve always been a fan - I think it’s cool to think about. Will that make “Time Keeper” have more appeal to older kids than the younger ones? I’ll put it to you this way…I think they’d arguably get more out of it, yes, but I don’t think that disqualifies the younger kids from enjoying this film on their own level, too. For a full understanding of “Time Keeper,” I’d say you’re looking at around ten years old and up, but anyone younger will still have plenty to keep them entertained. Everyone is going to love Tick Tock, regardless of whether you’re five years old or fifty. All in all, I think Haas has created something that really works well here. Obviously, time will tell (pun intended) as to whether or not I’m correct about that, but I felt like “Time Keeper” is a humble animated film that could certainly be the start of something even bigger…like a whole franchise with merchandise, games of all kinds, and of course, a continued story over the course of many sequels. Would I rock a hoodie with Tick Tock’s cute little chubby robot face on it? You bet I would - and I won’t be alone in feeling that way. The story’s moral compass points in the right direction, emphasizing the importance of teamwork to get the job done, and I like to think we’ll all respond most favourably to the characters who are the kindest & well-intentioned in this story as well. That being said, I love how Haas took the time to address the RJ sub-plotline as well, making sure we know why she acts the way that she does. If only that Shorty guy had some kind of excuse for his bumbling C-3PO shortcomings, right? Solid battle scenes before the end, complete with a fire-breathing dragon & lots of danger…I felt like Haas made sure that the storyline remained a priority as he tied up all the loose ends pretty successfully. I’m going with four stars out of five here… this is quality entertainment that bridges the gap between youth & budding adulthood in a way that fosters genuine educational curiosity and artistic stimulation. |
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