When Laura plays her old mix tape with her now-ex-boyfriend Harrison (Lewis Pullman), she experiences time travel in reverse. We never learn how this happens, as the film’s time travel logic is unclear. But the film’s main focus is larger themes, which we’ll mention later. ..
Laura is an aspiring young artist who spends her days painting and hanging out with her best friend Chloe. She’s single, but not for long, as Chloe introduces Laura to her brother, Harrison, who works at “Lost And Found,” a local music store that is owned by wise old sage Cooper. ..
Laura and Harrison quickly hit it off and after a few brief scenes of them bonding over their fondness for physical music and going surfing together, the two fall in love. Hoorah!
Unfortunately, their chances of a happily ever after are scuppered when Harrison is hit by a car and killed. In theory, this should have been the end of their relationship. However, Laura discovers she might still have a chance of happiness with Harrison when she discovers the mix tape she made with him has the power to transport her back in time. Each song takes her back to the exact time and place when she and Harrison added the song to the tape and it’s at these times that she tries to warn him about his impending death.
After saving Harrison from one tragic end, Laura discovers that death isn’t so willing to give up on its victim. After saving him from one tragic end, she discovers that death isn’t so willing to let go of its victim.
Laura tries to figure out a way to stop this from happening, but she also has to come to terms with the consequences of her travels through time. For example, her actions change the course of Harrison’s future and the lives of the people around her. This all stems from the classic “butterfly effect” theory- one small change in the past can lead to unforeseen consequences in the future. If Laura had spent more time watching time travel movies and less time collecting music, she would have known not to tamper with events that happened within her timestream!
This is a film about grief, loss, and second chances. These are all relatable themes so while the film bypasses logic on a fairly regular basis, you might still identify with the young couple at the heart of this tender love story. Like Laura, you may have struggled to let go of a relationship that has ended. You might also wish (or have wished) for a second chance to be with the people that you once loved but who have now gone. ..
However, there are a few things that could be improved on the film. For one, the pacing could be more fluid. It feels like there is a lot of build-up but then the film jumps right into the action. Additionally, some of the characters feel one-dimensional and not very interesting.
This film could have been so much more had they spent more time getting to know the characters and their story. The love story is rushed and there are a few holes in the story, which makes it less powerful. However, if they had spent more time developing the characters and their story, this could have been a powerful drama.
Despite these flaws, Press Play isn’t a bad movie. It’s enjoyable in fits and bursts, but if you’re looking for another time travel story that deals with grief and the importance of spending time with the people you love, you might want to re-watch About Time.
