It seems the "found footage" film genre is in no danger of dying out any time soon. This one at least tries to mix in another genre that has proved popular over the years, the time travel genre. Not only that, but it also makes the main characters teenagers. Naturally, with the movie covering more than one angle, the results are interesting at times. The screenplay does try to make the movie more intelligent and logical than usual - for example, the movie takes its time by showing the teens (realistically) making multiple tests on the time travel machine before trying it on themselves. And when they do start trying it on themselves, the actions they do one by one do seem believable.
Unfortunately, while I did appreciate (at first) this slow and methodical treatment, ultimately it backfired. The movie eventually becomes too long and too slow; it takes more than three quarters of the running time before the central characters find themselves in trouble. Curiously, while the movie is too long, there are some plot points that are never explained, like why all of a sudden the police are pursing the main character.
The movie probably would have worked better if it had taken a page from the 2012 found footage "Chronicle" - that movie had a good balance between showing enough planning and detail by the teens who find great power while bringing in conflict much earlier. (And the movie was twenty minutes shorter.) As it is, "Project Almanac" does have some interest and intelligence, but I think many viewers will soon become impatient with it.
Unfortunately, while I did appreciate (at first) this slow and methodical treatment, ultimately it backfired. The movie eventually becomes too long and too slow; it takes more than three quarters of the running time before the central characters find themselves in trouble. Curiously, while the movie is too long, there are some plot points that are never explained, like why all of a sudden the police are pursing the main character.
The movie probably would have worked better if it had taken a page from the 2012 found footage "Chronicle" - that movie had a good balance between showing enough planning and detail by the teens who find great power while bringing in conflict much earlier. (And the movie was twenty minutes shorter.) As it is, "Project Almanac" does have some interest and intelligence, but I think many viewers will soon become impatient with it.