Mega Time Squad follows John (Anton Tennet) as he attempts to pull of the perfect crime with the assistance of an ancient, Chinese artifact and several alternate versions of himself. Unfortunately, John (and all of his alternate selves) can barely put on a pair of shoes without catastrophe ensuing.
I was so eager to check this film out. The reviews out of the festival circuit were mostly positive and the cover art made Mega Time Squad seem like a nod to the grindhouse flicks of the ’70s and ’80s. As it turns out, I am at odds with the majority of critics on this one and there is not all that much resemblance to the grindhouse pictures of yesteryear. The flick has its moments but uneven pacing makes it a bit of a chore to sit through.
In spite of being amusing at times, Mega Time Squad isn’t all that funny and the majority of the characters aren’t all that likable. The main protagonists (all different versions of the same character from alternate timelines) are so clueless that you can’t help but laugh at their bungled attempts at everything they set out to do. However, the film is rarely out-and-out hilarious and that’s a problem. Writer/director Tim van Dammen’s script relies too heavily on the comedic elements of the flick to carry the sluggish and repetitive story along and the comedy isn’t funny enough to do that. Though the pacing picks up a bit in the third act, it’s really too little, too late. A movie that only runs 79-minutes shouldn’t feel this long.
It’s important to note that humor is entirely subjective and that some viewers may very well find that the comedy is enough to carry the story along but for this critic, it was simply not sharp-witted or clever enough to distract from the fact that the repetitious storyline wasn’t really all that compelling.
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The horror elements in Mega Time Squad are somewhat scarce. It’s much more in the realm of sci-fi comedy than horror comedy. There are a few brilliant moments of onscreen bloodshed and they are impressively rendered. But if you’re going into the film looking for gore, you are likely to be left disappointed.
I must give props to Luke Haigh for his prowess as an editor. The man had multiple shots to splice together to create the illusion that there are multiple versions of the same person onscreen at the same time and the end result is seamless. It’s ultra realistic and never appears choppy or slapped together.
The romantic subplot is somewhat endearing but it’s not enough to save the film from its own pacing issues. Hetty Gaskell-Hahn is likable as John’s romantic interest and she’s scripted as a strong and resourceful character but she really doesn’t get enough time to shine.
The primary special feature included in the film’s Blu-ray release is a series of deleted scenes, none of which really add anything to the film (some of which slowed it down even more) and were rightfully cut from the final version.
Mega Time Squad may be someone’s cup of tea but it really wasn’t mine. I would have been much happier rewatching Timecrimes for the 30th time. Mega Time Squad is now available on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD from Dark Sky.
WICKED RATING: 4/10
Director(s): Tim van Dammen
Writer(s): Tim van Dammen
Stars: Anton Tennet, Hetty Gaskell-Hahn
Release Date: April 9, 2019 (Blu-ray)
Studio/ Production Co: Dark Sky
Language: English
Length: 79-Minutes
